BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. - West Liberty's Bryce Butler has been named the D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year and earned a spot on first team All-Region for the second consecutive season, announced by the organization today. 

Butler, a junior guard from Latrobe, Pa, was just named the Mountain East Conference Player of the Year last week as well becoming just the third player ever in the league to garner back-to-back POY honors. This season he leads the MEC in scoring and is 13th in DII at 22.3 points per game, while making the most field goals of any DII player (278). He is shooting 58.9% from the floor, the third-best mark in the conference.

Butler also leads the team in rebounding, at 7.8 boards per game, the fourth-most in the MEC, ranks fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.92), and averages 3.7 assists per game (2^nd on the team and 7^th in MEC). He has posted a double-double in four straight games including a career-high 16 rebounds in the MEC semifinal and a 22-point, 12-rebound championship performance on way to being named the MEC Tournament's Most Valuable Player. The Latrobe, Pa native has 11 double-doubles on the season and has netted double-digits in all 30 games with 20-plus 23 times, including five of the last seven, and three 30-point outings. Butler has been West Liberty's leading scorer in 23 of the 31 games and four in a row. He was the MEC Player of the Week five times this season and was named the D2CIDA National Player of the Week on December 13 after his game-winning shot in the final seconds against WVSU at home.

Butler and the Hilltoppers will begin the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 2:30 pm versus Pitt-Johnstown in Indiana, Pa.

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