Nikitas earns first-team All-MWC honors

Lawrence's Jamie Nikitas (3) is a first-team All-MIdwest Conference selection.
Lawrence’s Jamie Nikitas (3) is a first-team All-MIdwest Conference selection.

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University men’s basketball star Jamie Nikitas has been named to the All-Midwest Conference first team in a vote of league coaches.

Nikitas (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) earned the honor after a record-breaking season with the Vikings. Nikitas was second in the league and ninth in all of NCAA Division III in scoring at 25.1 points per game.

Nikitas broke Lawrence’s season scoring average record by 3.6 points per game and scored 577 points, which shattered the school’s season scoring record of 494. Nikitas scored a career-high 40 points at Carroll University on Jan. 12 and had six 30-plus point games during the season. Nikitas also set Lawrence season records for free throws made (156) and attempted (222).

In addition to being second in the league in scoring, Nikitas finished first in steals at 2.6 per game, sixth in rebounding at 6.7 and seventh in assists at 3.4. In conference games only, Nikitas averaged 26.1 points (second in the MWC), 6.3 rebounds (ninth), 2.7 steals (first) and 3.6 assists (seventh).

A second-team all-conference selection a season ago, Nikitas was twice named the Midwest Conference Player of the Week this season. Nikitas also picked up two national honors as he was chosen as the United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week and selected for the D3hoops.com Team of the Week.

Nikitas ranks among the greatest players in Lawrence history and his name is all over the school’s record book. He finished fourth on the career scoring list with 1,406 points, trailing only All-Americans Chris Braier and Ryan Kroeger and Lawrence Hall of Famer Joel Dillingham.

Nikitas also ranked second in Lawrence history with 188 steals, sixth with 474 field goals, ninth with 120 3-pointers, 10th with 229 assists and 11th with 521 rebounds.