HARROGATE, Tenn. - Lincoln Memorial's Luquon Choice (pictured, No. 20) and Dorian Pinson (pictured, No. 15) have been named to the Small College Basketball 2016-17 Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award Top 100 Watch List, which was released on Sunday, Jan. 15. The Bevo Francis Award is presented annually to the top player in the country among schools in the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, the NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA. The Bevo Francis Award winner, who will be chosen through a combination of statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements, will be selected through an on-going process by a committee comprised of various university presidents, coaches and sports information directions across the country. The Bevo Francis Award Watch List will be narrowed down to 50 players on February 15, 25 players on March 15 and 13 finalists on April 1. The winner will be announced on April 3. Choice has piled up 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game through 16 appearances this season, all while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range. The Laurens, S.C. native leads the South Atlantic Conference in three-pointers with 61 and recently became the league's career leader in threes when he hit No. 341 at Anderson on Wednesday. Choice has also collected 14 steals and 11 blocks while playing a SAC-leading 554 total minutes this season. Pinson, meanwhile, is averaging a near triple-double with 12.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field. The Greenville, S.C. product leads the Railsplitters in steals with 22 and has hit the fourth-most free throws in the SAC with 70. Pinson has five double-doubles this season, including a 20-point, 14-rebound performance against Newberry on December 17. Behind Choice and Pinson, the Railsplitters are off to a 12-4 start with a 7-3 record in South Atlantic Conference play. Lincoln Memorial is currently ranked 25th in the NABC/Division II coaches poll and 18th in the DII media rankings. The Railsplitters most recently defeated Catawba 101-80 on Saturday evening at Tex Turner Arena. The Railsplitters are back in action on Wednesday night, Jan. 18, when they travel to Greeneville, Tenn. to face the Tusculum Pioneers at 8 p.m.
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