University of Akron sophmore guard Brian Walsh was named to the 2011-12 Men's Basketball Academic All-MAC team.

Walsh, a business management major, has a 3.35 GPA. During the season he averaged 8 points, 3 rebounds, and one assist. In addition,  Walsh  was second in in the conference in three-point percentage.

Press Release:

Sophomore guard Brian Walsh has been named to the 2011-12 Men's Basketball Academic All-MAC team the Mid-American Conference office announced on Friday.

Walsh was selected to the academic team in his first season with the Zips. Helped the Zips to a 22-12 overall record, 13-3 in the MAC, the 2011-12 regular season title and a birth in the MAC Title game and the 2012 NIT

In 34 games, Walsh made 27 starts and averaged 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio per game. He finished second in the MAC in 3-point percentage (.434), including the top 3-point percentage mark during MAC play (.442) and made at least one 3-point bucket in 26 games.

Walsh scored a career-high 16 points at Ball State (Jan. 24), including a perfect 8-of-8 performance at the free throw line. He also reached the four-rebound plateau 20 times, including 12 of the last 14 contests.

Walsh was named to the 2011 University of Akron Dean’s List and is a member of the Honors College at Akron. He is on schedule to graduate in the summer of 2012 with a degree in business management and plans to pursue his MBA beginning in the fall. Walsh has a 3.351 overall GPA.

A total of five student-athletes were named to the team as voted by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions. The number of honorees on the MAC All-Academic Team is the number that is set for the specific sport or 33% of the number of nominees, whichever is greater.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.

2011-12 MAC Men's Basketball Academic All-MAC Team
Brian Walsh, Akron, 3.351 GPA, Business Administration
Matt Kamieniecki, Ball State, 3.568 GPA, Business
Tony Watson, Buffalo, 3.20 GPA, Management
Rian Pearson, Toledo, 3.205 GPA, Individualized Studies
Brandon Pokley, Western Michigan, 3.94 GPA, Finance

--