Moore Named AAC Player of the Year
ORLANDO, Fla. (The American/SMU) – Unanimous first-team all-league selection Nic Moore was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, league officials announced at the conference awards banquet on Thursday. Moore helped lead No. 25 SMU to a 25-5 overall record and 13-5 conference mark, finishing second in the league.
Moore is the first Mustang to repeat as Player of the Year since Gene Phillips (1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71). Last season, Moore became the eighth Mustang to earn the honor.
The senior started 29 games for the Mustangs and led the team in scoring (16.1 points, 2nd AAC), assists (5.2, 1st AAC) and steals (1.3, 5th AAC) while shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point range (6th AAC) and posted a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC). He also led SMU in 3-pointers per game (2.6, 1st AAC) and free throw percentage (80.0 percent, T-2nd AAC).
In three years as a Mustang, he led SMU to a 79-22 record including 50-4 at home and 40-14 in American Athletic Conference action. The Mustangs won the 2014-15 regular season and tournament titles en route to
the NCAA Tournament. In 2013-14, SMU finished tied for third in the league and eventually reached the NIT title game. In 2015-16, Moore was the MVP of the Las Vegas Classic as SMU claimed the title. This adds to Moore’s career accolades.
Moore is on the Naismith Trophy Watch List and was on the Bob Cousy Award final 10, the Wooden Award Late Season 20, the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List and was a Senior CLASS Award Candidate. Moore was also named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District VII All-District Team and the All-AAC First Team. In addition to being the AAC Player of the Year in 2014-15, he was named Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention and NABC All-District first-team.
Throughout his career at SMU, Moore climbed near the top of several Mustang career records. He finished second in assists (508), fourth in assists per game (5.1), fourth in free throw percentage (83.8), fourth in 3 field goals made (225), sixth in 3 field goal percentage (42.1), games started (100), tied ninth in steals (136), tied 10th in steals per game (1.4) and 11th in points (1,462).
Two additional Mustangs earned honors this week as Markus Kennedy was named the AAC Sixth Man of the Year and Shake Milton picked up All-Rookie Team honors.
