BLAIR SELECTED TO ALL-NSIC

NSO NEWS RELEASE

Today, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released its All-NSIC honors for the 2020-21 men’s basketball season. Bulldogs’ redshirt sophomore guard Drew Blair was named to the All-NSIC North Second team. Freshman forward Austin Andrews was selected as the NSIC North Freshman of the Year.

For the Stevens Point, Wis. native Blair, it is his second consecutive year that he has received NSIC All-Conference honors. During the 2020-21 season Blair was the offensive quarterback for UMD, the redshirt sophomore recorded 20 or more points in 9 of 13 games played this season, including a season high 27 in the season opener against Winona State. Blair led UMD in a host of statistical categories including points per game with 18.8, field goals made per game with 6.5, steals with 1.4 per game, and minutes played with 34.7 per game. Blair also finished second on UMD with 2.8 assists per game. Blair has also been locked in from the field this season his 43.3% shooting percentage ranks 18th best in the NSIC. Blair’s 18.8 points per game is good for 4th in the NSIC, his 1.4 steals per game is tied for 8th in the NSIC his 2.8 assists is good for 20th best in the NSIC, and his 34.7 minutes played ranks 6th most in all of the NSIC. Upon conclusion of the regular season he has been bestowed with All-NSIC second team honors.

Andrews, the Eden Prairie, Minn. native captures his first all conference honors in his first year of competition in the NSIC. The freshman burst onto the scene in 2020-21 regular season creating problems with his effort on the glass and expert scoring touch from in close. Andrews averaged 13.5 points per game during his first season fueled by the fact he finished with double digit point totals in 11 of 13 games this season. Andrews was just as successful on the glass this season, the freshman forward averaged 7.2 rebounds per game good for 7th in the NSIC during the 2020-21 campaign including an average of 2.8 offensive boards per game the third highest total in the NSIC and highest of any NSIC freshman. Andrews was also extremely efficient shooting from the field, he shot 80-128 from the field for the season good for a 62.5% clip, 62.5% is good for fourth in the NSIC for the regular season and is the highest mark put up by any NSIC freshman, it also ranks tied for 17th best in all of NCAA DII. The culmination of his game showed on multiple occaisions this season as Andrews recorded three double-double’s on the season with 14 points 10 rebounds vs UMary on Jan. 15, 20 points and 13 rebounds vs Northern State on Jan. 29, and 14 points 11 rebounds vs. Bemidji State on Feb. 13. Andrews is the first player to earn Freshman of the Year honors for UMD since Brett Ervin who earned the designation in the 2010-11 season.

Look for Blair and Andrews to continue to be pillars for the men’s basketball program for years to come.