March 1, 2016
CHICAGO -- Following a sensational regular season, UIC's Dikembe Dixson (Freeport, Ill./Mingo Central [W. Va.]) was unanimously named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, Tuesday, as selected by the conference's head coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
Aside from earning the Freshman of the Year award, and a spot on the five-member All-Freshman team, Dixson was voted to the All-Horizon League Second Team. Dixson is the first UIC freshman to be named to the All-Horizon League team since the 2001-2002 season when Cedrick Banks (second team) secured the first of four consecutive All-Horizon League distinctions. The forward is only the second Flame to win Newcomer of the Year plaudits, joining Othyus Jeffers (2005-06).
Dixson is the first Horizon League freshman to earn All-League honors since Detroit's Ray McCallum was named Newcomer of the Year and a second-team performer following the 2010-11 season.
"Since the day he arrived on campus last summer, Dikembe has not been afraid to put in the work necessary to succeed at this level," said UIC head coach Steve McClain. "As a coach, I know that when you're willing to put forth that extra effort day in and day out, then great things can happen. For him to be named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, and an All-Horizon League player, is a reflection of that dedication.
"I'm incredibly proud of all that Dikembe has been able to accomplish in his first season at UIC," said McClain. "The transition into college basketball is never easy for any student-athlete, but he has handled it about as well as anyone I've ever been around."
Dixson, one of six true freshmen on the roster, continually raised the bar throughout his inaugural campaign. Not only did he lead UIC in several statistical categories, but he ranked among the conference leaders as well. Dixson poured in 19.9 points per game to rank third overall in the Horizon League in scoring this season; he is tied for second among NCAA freshmen in that category. In Horizon League games only, Dixson inflated his scoring average to 23.3 ppg, tying for the conference lead.
In his premiere season, Dixson scored more points than any first-year player in Horizon League history. With his first basket of the game on Feb. 21 vs. Oakland, Dixson reached 502 career points to break a tie with UIC legend Mark Miller and set the Horizon League freshmen scoring record. The Freeport, Ill., native created even more separation as he finished the regular season with 576 points. He needs only 26 more to eclipse Sherrell Ford, who netted 601 points in his first season (1992-93), to become the top freshman scorer in program annals. Overall, Dixson's current mark of 576 points is the eighth-best single-season total in UIC history.
A prolific scorer, Dixson turned in one of the season's most memorable efforts in a double-overtime classic at Youngstown State on Feb. 16. That night, the 6-foot-7 standout erupted to score a career-high 40 points and pull down a personal-best 17 rebounds against the Penguins. He became only the second Flame ever to reach the 40-point plateau, and the first since Chuck Lambert scored a single-game record 43 points against Trinity Christian on Jan. 27, 1974. Dixson is the only NCAA Division I player, from any class, to score at least 40 points and corral at least 15 rebounds in a game this season.
Dixson was by no means a one-dimensional player. He led UIC and ranked seventh in the Horizon League with 7.2 rebounds per game and he posted a team-high six double-doubles, with four of those coming in conference games. He also checked in at 11th overall with 1.1 steals per game. Dixson also ranks in the top 10 nationally in both field-goal attempts (5th) and free-throw attempts (8th).
The durable Dixson played more minutes per game, 36.6, than any freshman in the nation this year. He started all 29 games and played at least 40 minutes on seven occasions. Dixson played a career-high 50 minutes of the double-overtime thriller at YSU on Feb. 16. He played a league-high (among all players) 39.7 minutes per game during Horizon League action.
Dixson was named Horizon League Freshman of the Week a conference-record eight times throughout the season, including five times during league play. He claimed the accolade four times in five weeks between Jan. 25 and Feb. 22, and the time he did not win, the award went to his UIC classmate Michael Kolawole (Feb. 8). The Flames played 15 games during the weeks that Dixson garnered the honor and he averaged 24.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 1.2 spg.
UIC will turn its attention toward the postseason this weekend and the 2016 Little Caesar's Horizon League men's basketball championship. The 10th-seeded Flames will head to historic Joe Louis Arena in Detroit to face No. 3 Wright State in a first-round matchup on Saturday, March 5 at 4 p.m. CT. For more information about #MotorCityMadness, please call 312-413-UIC1 (8421) or visit the ="" http:="" motorcitymadness="" horizonleague="" com="">Tournament Central page today.
For a complete list of Horizon League award winners from the 2015-16 season, please visit HorizonLeague.org or watch the video below:
