Thursday, March 15, 2018

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After leading his team to its second appearance in the NCAA Division II West Regional final, Western Oregon senior forward Tanner Omlid is now being considered among the top players in the country.

Omlid is one of 25 players to remain on the watch list for the Bevo Francis Award. The award, presented by Small College Basketball, recognizes the top player in the country at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA affiliations.

The only GNAC player named to the top-25, Omlid has previously been honored as both the GNAC and D2CCA West Region Player of the Year. Omlid finished the season leading the Wolves in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.6 points and 6,5 rebounds per game. The senior led the GNAC and was among the Division II leaders with 2.7 steals per game and was third in the GNAC with 1.8 blocked shots per game.

Omlid led Western Oregon to the GNAC championship and regular-season title, the No. 1 seed in the West Region and a 31-2 overall record. The Wolves’ 31 wins tied the GNAC record for wins in a season while the team’s 19 conference wins set a GNAC record.

Now in its third year, the finalists for the Bevo Francis Award will be announced in a highlight video that will be released on Saturday, March 31. The 2018 Bevo Francis Award winner will be announced on Mon., Apr. 2, with the award presented on Mar. 19 at the newly created National Awards Show, held in conjunction with the SCB Alumni Association’s Celebration of the Game event at the Crowne Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.