Feb. 25, 2009

TOWSON, MD. - - Belmont University men's basketball senior Andy Wicke (Hendersonville, Tenn.) added to his lengthy and distinguished list of accolades Wednesday, as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America University Division Men's Basketball Third Team.

One of only seven players in all of college basketball this season with the opportunity to earn a fourth consecutive automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Wicke has been a leader on and off the court for the Bruin program.

The 6-2 guard received Academic All-District honors earlier this month and is one of 10 finalists for the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Wicke is also a four-time member of the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team.

Among his countless on-court honors, Wicke currently ranks fourth all-time in Atlantic Sun Conference history in made three-point field goals (285) and leads the conference this season in three-point field goals per game (2.78) and steals per game (2.30). He also ranks seventh on the Bruin NCAA era career scoring list with 1,167 points.

Wicke has 53 career double figure scoring games and set a Curb Event Center record with 10 three-point field goals against Gardner-Webb, Feb. 15, 2007.

"Andy has been a tremendous representative of our basketball program and Belmont University," Belmont head coach Rick Byrd said. "This is an honor well deserved and celebrates Andy's sacrifice and dedication to perform at a high level on the court and in the classroom."

This marks the 16th time a Belmont student-athlete has earned Academic All-America honors, eighth for the men's basketball program. Wicke is one of four men's basketball players in school history to be so honored, joining Wes Burtner (2001, 2002), Adam Mark (2002, 2003, 2004) and Justin Hare (2007, 2008).

Complete ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams can be viewed at www.cosida.com.