Feb. 7, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - Senior forward Matt Betley (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Men's Basketball First Team announced Thursday.

The team captain leads Lafayette in rebounding with 6.2 rebounds per game and is one of three Lafayette players averaging double figures in the scoring column (10.3 ppg). Betley maintains a 3.48 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in Economics and Business in Lafayette's competitive academic environment.

Betley has started all 22 games for the Leopards who occupy first place in the Patriot League standings with a 5-2 league mark and a 14-8 overall record. The versatile power forward has led the Leopards in scoring three times this season and has reached double figures 12 times. Betley has shown his range, hitting 36 three-pointers on a squad that ranks fourth in the nation in three-pointers per game (10.7). He knocked down a career-high six three-pointers at No. 13 Pitt on January 2 en route to a career-high 20 points.

Having played in 107 career games with 64 starts, Betley has worked his way into 15th place on the career three-pointer list with 103. He is also 19th in career rebounding with 518 rebounds.

To be eligible for selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.2. The district winners now will be placed on a national ballot and voting for the national winners begins Feb. 12.

The Leopards return to action on Saturday at Holy Cross for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.