NATCHITOCHES – For the fourth straight season, the Northwestern State men's basketball team has an All-Southland Conference player.
 
And for the second straight season, it is a first-timer who earned the honor.
 
Junior guard Trenton Massner was chosen to the All-SLC second team Monday as part of one of the three five-man teams voted on by league coaches and sports information directors.
 
"Trenton does a great job," 22^nd-year head coach Mike McConathy said. "When Trenton gets seven to 10 rebounds per game, we're really, really good. For the most part this year, his rebounds have come on the defensive end, which result in buckets because he pushes the ball so well. He does a lot of good things, is a quality young man, is a quality student and represents Northwestern State in a quality manner."
 
Massner, a Wapello, Iowa, product, led the Demons to a fifth-place finish in conference play and the No. 4 seed in this week's Southland Conference Tournament. He follows Chudier Bile (second team, 2020) in the Demons' first-time all-conference streak. Ishmael Lane was a back-to-back, first-team All-Southland selection in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
 
A 6-foot-2 combo guard, Massner leads Northwestern State in scoring (13 ppg) and steals (32) and stands second on the team in assists (61) and third in blocks (11) and rebounding (4.7 per game).
 
Massner was even better in conference play.
 
In the Demons' 16 Southland games, Massner shot 53.5 percent from the floor (fifth best in the league) and 37.7 percent from 3-point range, averaging 14.4 points per game. He paced the Demons in assists (45) and ranked second on the team in rebounding in conference play, grabbing an average of 5.2 rebounds per game.
 
He ranked in the top 21 in the conference in shooting percentage, rebounding, steals per game and assists per game. He produced his lone double-double of the season in an 86-80 win against Houston Baptist on Feb. 22, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Massner earned Southland Conference Player of the Week honors Feb. 1 after averaging 19.5 points, five rebounds and three assists in wins against New Orleans and Central Arkansas.
 
Massner and the Demons open their second straight Southland Conference Tournament run Thursday at 5 p.m. They will face the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 5 seed New Orleans and the winner of Tuesday's Southeastern Louisiana-McNeese matchup.  

2020-21 All-Southland Conference Men's Basketball Teams
Player of the Year: Zach Nutall, Sam Houston
Defensive Player of the Year: David Muoka, Lamar
Freshman of the Year: Bryce Monroe, Sam Houston
Newcomer of the Year: Ty Gordon, Nicholls
Coach of the Year: Austin Claunch, Nicholls
 
 

First Team	Institution	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Zach Nutall2	Sam Houston	G	Jr.	Bryan, Texas
Gavin Kensmil2	Stephen F. Austin	F	Sr.	Paramaribo, Suriname
Kolton Kohl	Abilene Christian	C	R-Sr.	San Angelo, Texas
Demarkus Lampley	Sam Houston	G	Sr.	Phenix City, Ala.
Ty Gordon	Nicholls	G	Sr.	Tunica, Miss.
Second Team	Institution	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Joe Pleasant2	Abilene Christian	F	Jr.	Overland Park, Kan.
Keaston Willis	UIW	G	So.	Sulphur Springs, Texas
Cameron Johnson	Stephen F. Austin	G	Sr.	Little Rock, Ark.
Trenton Massner	Northwestern State	G	Jr.	Wapello, Iowa
Damion Rosser	New Orleans	G	R-Jr.	McDonough, Ga.
Third Team	Institution	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Rylan Bergersen2	Central Arkansas	G	Sr.	Boise, Idaho
Roti Ware	Stephen F. Austin	G	Sr.	Morton, Miss.
Coryon Mason	Abilene Christian	G	Sr.	Oklahoma City, Okla.
Kevin Johnson	Nicholls	G	Sr.	Thibodaux, La.
Najee Garvin	Nicholls	F	R-Jr.	Lexington, S.C.

 
² indicates two-time all-conference selection
    

All-Defensive Team	Institution	Pos.	Class	Hometown
David Muoka	Lamar	C	So.	Hong Kong, China
Damien Daniels	Abilene Christian	G	Jr.	Kansas City, Mo.
Reggie Miller	Abilene Christian	G	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Kevin Johnson	Nicholls	G	Sr.	Thibodaux, La.
Coryon Mason	Abilene Christian	G	Sr.	Oklahoma City, Okla.