March 25, 2008
Abercrombie Named Third-Team All-American
EDINBORO,
Pa. -- Pittsburg State University senior center Cory Abercrombie was named
a third-team NCAA Division II All-American on the Daktronics All-America
Team Tuesday (Mar. 25).
Voting was conducted among Division II sports information
directors. Daktronics is a world leader in programmable electronic signs,
electronic and digital displays and scoreboards.
Abercrombie (6-7, 243) becomes the sixth Pittsburg
State player to garner NCAA Division II All-America honors -- all during
the last 12 seasons under head coach Gene Iba. He is the 14th player in
school history to achieve All-America status (NAIA or NCAA-II).
“This is a tremendous honor for Cory and
for our basketball program,” said Iba, who recently completed his
13th season leading the Gorillas program. “Not only has he become
an All-American, but Cory has garnered more regional and conference awards
than anyone we’ve previously had in our program. He made tremendous
improvements from the day he came into our program and it ended as one
of the best careers in school history.”
Abercrombie finished the season averaging 17.9
points and 10.2 rebounds per game, helping the Gorillas to an 18-10 overall
record. The Piedmont, S.C., native was named to co-MVP of the South Central
Region by Daktronics and he also garnered MVP honors of the Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association. He was an unanimous first-team
All-MIAA selection and was selected to the MIAA All-Defensive Team.
Abercrombie led the MIAA in rebounding and field
goal percentage (.586). He ranked second in the league in scoring and
fifth in the conference in blocked shots (1.1 bpg).
Abercrombie was an honorable mention All-MIAA
performer as a junior in 2007 after transferring to Pitt State from Independence
Community College where he was an NJCAA All-America in 2006. During his
58-game Pitt State career, Abercrombie scored 953 points (16.4 ppg) and
grabbed 468 rebounds (8.1 rpg).
John Smith of Winona State University was named
the Daktronics/Division II National Player Player of the Year. He was
joined on the first-team All-America squad by teammate Jonte Flowers,
Sean Barnette of Wingate University, Steve Dagostino of Saint Rose College
and Johnny Reibel of Rollins College. Abercrombie was the only MIAA player
to earn All-America honors.