HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky's Drew McDonald will add Horizon League Player of the Year to the lengthy list of awards bestowed to the senior forward for the Norse, as McDonald highlights the list of awards doled out by the league office Tuesday afternoon. Jalen Tate earned a spot of the Horizon League All-Defensive Team as well.
 
McDonald ranks second in the conference in scoring (19.6 ppg), but averages a league-best 9.6 rpg for Northern Kentucky, which secured a share of its second-straight Horizon League Regular-Season Championship. In the regular-season finale against Green Bay, McDonald both eclipsed 2,000 career points and set NKU's career-scoring record, surpassing Craig Sanders' 2,007 points. In the process, McDonald became just the third player in the 40-year history of the Horizon League to eclipse 2,000 points (2,011) and 1,000 rebounds (1,051).
 
With the player of the year nod, McDonald also highlights the All-Horizon League First Team, marking the third-straight year he has collected the honor. He becomes the 16^th player in league history to win the award three-straight years.
 
Tate collects his second all-defensive team nod after earning the distinction as a redshirt freshman last year. He is averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and is a key cog for the league's second-best scoring defense (68.4 ppg in league play). Tate's perimeter defense helps set the tone for the nation's 23rd-best 3-point shooting defense, which limits opponents to just 30.4 percent shooting from long range.
 
Northern Kentucky posted a 23-8 overall record and 13-5 mark in Horizon League play, finishing as co-champions and earning the right to host Detroit Mercy in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on March 6 at BB&T Arena. Tickets are available for the contest through Ticketmaster.