March 5, 2004

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior guard D.J. Munir and freshman forward Mike Popoko were named to the all-conference second team and all-rookie team, respectively, as announced by the America East Conference on Friday afternoon. University of Vermont junior forward Taylor Coppenrath became the fourth player in the 25-year history of America East to win player of the year honors more than once when he was named the winner of the Kevin Roberson Award for the second-straight year.

Munir finished the regular season ranked fourth in the conference in scoring with 15.7 points per game and has scored 1,554 points in his career, placing him fourth on the all-time scoring list in Stony Brook history. It is the third straight season that he has been named to the all-conference second team. Popoko impressed during his freshman campaign, averaging 8.6 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, tops among the conference's rookies. He was named America East Rookie of the Week twice during the regular season.

Coppenrath was honored along with Boston University sophomore guard Shaun Wynn, the Defensive Player of the Year, University at Albany freshman guard Jon Iati, the Rookie of the Year, and Dennis Wolff of Boston University, the Coach of the Year, at the conference's awards luncheon at Metcalf Hall on the Boston University campus. All voting was conducted by the conference's head coaches.

Munir was joined on the second team by junior center Nick Billings of Binghamton University, and senior guard Eric Dobson, junior forward Mark Flavin and sophomore guard Kevin Reed of University of Maine.

Popoko was joined on the all-rookie team by Iati, guard Troy Hailey of Binghamton, swingman Blagoj Janev of University of New Hampshire, and forward Bennet Davis of Northeastern.

Joining Coppenrath on the all-conference first team were sophomore guard Jose Juan Barea of Northeastern, junior guard Chaz Carr and senior forward Jason Grochowalski of Boston University and junior guard T.J. Sorrentine of Vermont. Coppenrath and Barea were unanimous selections.

The third team consists of senior guard Brandon Carter of Binghamton, senior forward Ryan Butt and Wynn of Boston University, senior guard Ryan Stys of University of Hartford and senior swingman Javorie Wilson of Northeastern.

Stony Brook will be in action tonight at the Choice Hotels America East Men's Basketball Championship at Walter Brown Arena on the Boston University campus. The Seawolves are the No. 8 seed and will take on No. 9 University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) to open the championship in a first-round game 7 p.m.