MSU's Lawrence Roberts Named 2004-05 Winner Of Inaugural Howell Trophy
Roberts outdistanced fellow MSU teammate Shane Power, a seniorguard/forward for the Bulldogs, and Ole Miss senior forward Tommie Eddie.The veteran trio finished at the top of the voting as determined by astatewide panel of 41 media voters representing radio, television and printoutlets from around the state of Mississippi.
An honorable mention Associated Press All-American and a top 10 finalistfor the 2004-05 Senior CLASS Award, Roberts hails as Mississippi State'sfirst repeat first-team all-SEC performer since current Dallas Maverickscenter Erick Dampier. The 6-9, 240-pound Roberts completed his seniorseason having led the SEC in rebounding (11.0 rpg; 8th in the NCAA) anddouble-doubles (20; T-6th in the NCAA), while ranking fourth in scoring(16.9 ppg), ninth in field-goal percentage (44.8%) and 10th in steals (1.6spg). As a senior, he posted MSU's best season rebounding average andearned the school's first individual rebounding title since former NBAstandout Rickey Brown averaged a league-leading 14.4 rebounds per contest in1979-80. An MSU team tri-captain this past year, Roberts helped lead coachRick Stansbury's 23-11 Bulldogs to a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournamentappearance and a fourth straight 20-win season in 2004-05.
Having amassed 1,942 points (16.5 ppg) and 1,172 rebounds (9.9 rpg) duringhis 118-game, four-year collegiate career, Roberts topped all active NCAADivision I men's basketball players during the course of this past seasonwith a final tally of 58 career double-doubles. Upon completing hisfreshman and sophomore seasons at Baylor University and then transferring toMSU in 2003, Roberts went on to become just the third player in MississippiState basketball history to reach 1,000 career points in just two seasons.A unanimous first-team all-American as a junior and named the 2003-04 SECPlayer of the Year with the Bulldogs, the Houston native ranks 26th on MSU'sall-time scoring list with 1,048 career points and 13th with 654 careerrebounds. Having averaged a double-double (16.9 ppg & 10.5 rpg) during histwo-year State stint, Roberts stands seventh and third all-time on theschool's respective career scoring and rebounding average charts.
The Cellular South Howell Trophy is named in honor of former MississippiState All-American and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame memberBailey Howell, who was in attendance during Thursday's activities in Jacksonand presented the inaugural award to MSU's Roberts.