WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth graduate guard Xander Rice was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List Wednesday, an award given annually to the nation's top mid-major player. Rice is the third Hawk ever named to the award's watch list.
 
Rice currently ranks fourth in the CAA in scoring at 19.5 points per game, and is among the national leaders in free throws. He has scored over 20 points in 10 of 15 games this season, including a career-high 30 points in Monmouth's win over West Virginia. Rice comes off an 11-12 shooting performance against Northeastern, netting 29 points in 24 minutes including 24 in the first half.
 
He is the third Hawk to ever earn a spot on the Lou Henson Award Watch List, joining Justin Robinson, who won the award in 2016-17, and George Papas, who was listed during the 2021-22 season.


Rice was one of five CAA players listed, joining Reyne Smith of Charleston, Amari Williams of Drexel, Tyler Thomas of Hofstra and Trazarien White of UNCW.

 
 The Lou Henson award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Coach Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, CUSA, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast. The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.


Rice and the Hawks are back on the floor tomorrow in CAA action at 7:00 p.m. at UNC Wilmington.