March 12, 2008
Center Valley, Pa. - Lafayette senior Matt Betley was voted the 2007-08 Patriot League Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, it was announced on Wednesday by Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich. The scholar-athlete of the year award is voted on by the Patriot League's men's basketball sports information directors.
Betley carries a cumulative 3.45 grade point average as an Economics and Business major, and posted a 3.83 GPA in the fall semester. He was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II Men's Basketball First Team.
The Mount Laurel, N.J. native also posted an excellent season on the court. Betley served as the Lafayette captain in the 2007-08 season, and averaged 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while helping the Leopards to a record of 15-15 overall and 6-8 in Patriot League play. He led the team in rebounds for the second year in a row, and scored in double figures in nine of the last 10 contests and in 20 games for the year.
Betley is the second Lafayette student-athlete to earn the Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award, and first since current Lafayette assistant coach Mike Farrell claimed the honor in 2004.
To be eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen are not eligible for this honor.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each individual sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.
