March 12, 2008
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette senior Matt Betley (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) has been voted the 2007-08 Patriot League Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The scholar-athlete of the year award is voted on by the Patriot League's men's basketball sports information directors.
Betley carries a cumulative 3.45 grade point average (GPA) as an Economics and Business major at Lafayette and posted a 3.83 GPA in the fall semester. The senior forward was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II Men's Basketball First Team in February, one of just two Patriot League student-athletes to earn the honor.
Serving as the team captain in the 2007-08 season, Betley averaged 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while helping the Leopards to a record of 15-15 overall and 6-8 in Patriot League play. He led the team in rebounds (173) for the second year in a row, and scored in double figures in nine of the last 10 contests and in 19 games for the year.
The Mount Laurel, N.J. native finished 17th in career rebounding at Lafayette with 555, just behind Mike Farrell (565 from 2000-04), current Lafayette assistant coach. Betley ended his career with 946 points.
Betley is the second Lafayette student-athlete to earn the Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award, and first since Farrell claimed the honor in 2004.
To be eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in their sport. Freshmen are not eligible for this honor.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each individual sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.
