Bucknell University Athletics
Mike Muscala Named to Lou Henson All-America Team, Picked as Susquehanna Valley Limo Bison Athlete of Week
3/20/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 20, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Junior center Mike Muscala(Roseville, Minn./Roseville) of the Bucknell basketball team has earned Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week honors after turning in two spectacular performances in the National Invitation Tournament, and he added another honor on Tuesday when he was named to the Lou Henson All-America Team by collegeinsider.com.
In two NIT games last week, Muscala had 20 points and nine rebounds in a 65-54 win over top-seeded Arizona, followed by 25 points and 15 rebounds in a second-round 75-67 loss to Nevada. Muscala's stat line against Nevada gave him 16 double-doubles for the season, tying Boakai Lalugba'sschool record set in 2002-03. It was also his third straight 14th 20-point game of the season, which was two shy of the program mark. In Muscala's last three games of the season, encompassing the Patriot League championship game against Lehigh and the two NIT game, Muscala totaled 75 points (25.0), 38 rebounds (12.7), 10 assists (3.3) and eight blocks (2.7) while shooting 50 percent from the field (22-44) and 88.6 percent from the free-throw line (31-35).
The Lou Henson All-America Team consists of the top 25 "mid-major" players in the country. Muscala is also a finalist for the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award, which will be announced on March 30 in New Orleans as part of the Final Four festivities.
Bucknell's victory over Arizona last Wednesday came in the Bison's very first NIT appearance, and it was the team's first win over a Pac-12 program since 1951. In addition to his 20 points and nine rebounds against the Wildcats, Muscala also had three assists and four blocks.
Muscala finished the season averaging 17.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, setting career highs in both. He led the Patriot League in rebounding by a wide margin and ranked fourth in scoring.
Muscala's 596 points this season rank third on Bucknell's single-season list, while his 319 rebounds rank sixth. That rebound total is the highest by a Bucknell player since 1968-69. Muscala also became only the second player in program history to make 200 free throws in a season. His 203 charity tosses just missed Patrick King's school mark of 205, set in 1991-92. Muscala shot 85.3 percent at the line this season (203-238), the sixth-best mark in program history.
Muscala's 59 blocked shots are fifth-most on the single-season chart, and he now owns the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 spots on that list. On Bucknell's career charts, Muscala now ranks ninth in scoring (1,399), 10th in rebounding (715) and second in blocked shots (191).
Bucknell finished the season with a 25-10 record. It was the second straight year with 25 wins, which are second-most in program history.
