Men's Basketball Honors Handed out at Annual Awards Banquet

Captains Bailey, Blankenship among the Winners

April 17, 2002

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Co-captains Bryan Bailey (Hempstead, N.Y./South Side H.S.) and Dan Blankenship (Moundsville, W.Va./Wheeling Park H.S.) headlined the Bucknell men's basketball major award winners at the 2001-02 Backcourt Club Awards Banquet, held last Sunday in Larison Hall on campus.

Blankenship, a junior guard, captured the Thomas A. Thompson Award for "spirit, intensity and outstanding defensive play" for the second straight year. Blankenship and Bailey were co-recipients of the Malcom E. Musser Award for leadership. Bailey and junior forward Boakai Lalugba (East Orange, N.J./Bishop Francis Essex Catholic H.S.) shared the Benton A. Kribbs Memorial Award for "outstanding contribution." Sophomore guard Chris Rodgers (Norristown, Pa./Germantown Academy) won the prestigious Coaches Award, while 1961 Bucknell graduate Donald Myers Jr. was presented the Backcourt Club Award. Finally, Bailey and senior Peter Santos (New Haven, Conn./Notre Dame H.S.) were given special Senior Awards in recognition of their four outstanding years of contributions to Bison Basketball.

With the exception of the Coaches Award, each of the team honors were voted upon by the players.

Bucknell's defensive stopper, Blankenship started all 29 games in the Bison backcourt in 2001-02, extending his consecutive games streak to 84 dating back to the beginning of his freshman year. Blankenship also led the Bison in assists (207) and minutes played (936) this season. He scored a career-high 16 points in an early-season win over Cornell, then matched that total later in the year in a loss at American. He ranked sixth in the Patriot League in assists and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Blankenship had an even or positive ratio in all but five games this season.

"Dan's winning this award for the second time speaks volumes about what he brings to the team and about what his presence has meant to his teammates," says head coach Pat Flannery. "Dan is always assigned to the other team's best guard. He is the son of a coach and came in with great instincts. He does all the things that help a team win."

Despite a pair of injuries that forced him to the sidelines for 10 games, Bailey enjoyed yet another outstanding campaign for the Orange & Blue. Bailey led all Patriot League players with a 17.4 points-per-game scoring average and was named to the All-Patriot League First Team for the second straight year. He finished the regular season playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 24.2 points and 7.6 rebounds over the final five games.

Bailey scored at least 30 points twice and at least 20 points eight times in 2001-02. His streak of five straight 20-point games made him the first Bucknell player to do so since 1996-97. At Lafayette on Feb. 2, Bailey became the 28th Bison to record 1,000 career points. He finished with 1,167, good for 16th place on Bucknell's all-time scoring list. At the awards banquet, Bailey was presented a marked basketball commemorating the 1,000-point milestone.

"Bryan is going to go down in history as one of the truly special players we've had here," Flannery offers. "For all the injuries he had this year, I thought he handled it tremendously. When he was finally healthy, it brought us a different dimension. Bryan gave us everything he had. His commitment to the team and to winning was so evident down the stretch."

Rodgers was Bucknell's most improved performer in 2001-02. Rodgers played primarily with the junior varsity as a freshman, appearing in only five varsity contests. He played in all 29 this season, including five starts, and averaged 5.2 points per game. Rodgers flashed a deadly long-range shooting eye, converting 26 of 52 (.500) 3-point attempts.

Rodgers' breakout game came in front of his hometown fans at Villanova on Dec. 1, when he logged 12 points, four assists, three steals and no turnovers. On Feb. 6 in a win over Navy in Davis Gym, Rodgers exploded for 25 points in 23 minutes off the bench on this near-perfect boxscore line: 8-9 FG, 4-4 3FG, 3-3 FT. At season's end Rodgers led all Patriot League players with a .529 3-point percentage in league games. He is just the third Bucknell player ever to make at least half his 3-point attempts in a season.

"Chris has shown unbelievable dedication since the day he stepped on this campus," Flannery says. "He loves to play the game. He's the first guy on the court every day and the last to leave. He comes to the gym for only one reason - to improve his game. Due to his year-round commitment, as coaches we had every ounce of confidence playing him this year. When some injuries came along, he made the most of the opportunity."

Throughout his four years at Bucknell, Santos was better known for his rebounding and defensive efforts than as a prolific scorer. He averaged 1.3 points per game as a senior and 1.6 for his career. Santos missed his entire sophomore year (1999-2000) due to a broken leg, but returned to play in 52 more games over the next two years, including 14 starts.

"There were many nights where Pete's energy and athleticism really gave us a lift," Flannery lauds. "He sparked us time after time. He brought great energy and was a real active rebounder and team player."

A native of nearby Shamokin, Pa., and a 1957 graduate of Shamokin High School, Myers has remained one of Bucknell's most ardent supporters through the years. His father, Donald Myers Sr., is a 1935 Bucknell graduate, while his son, Donald Myers III, is a 1989 Bucknell graduate.

Myers was president of Myers Insurance, Inc., from 1972-90, then Myers & Lynch Insurance from 1990 until his retirement. He was also a regional board member of First National Trust Bank and a member of the Board of Directors of Montour Mutual Insurance Co.

Myers has developed a unique rapport with Bucknell's players and coaches, attending Bison games both home and away for more than 25 years.

"You hope every program has a Don Myers there for support," says Flannery. "When you see him in the stands you know he's with you from beginning to end. His support is something that no coach, player or administrator ever forgets. Don simply bleeds Orange and Blue."