CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference has announced its 2021-22 All-Conference Men's Basketball Team and Eastern Oregon University had two athletes make the list along with a major player award.

Junior guard Phillip Malatare was named the Newcomer of the Year and was tabbed First Team All-CCC. He garners the award after being a guiding force for the Mountaineers in 2021-22. Also making the list was Xavier Lovelace who was named Honorable Mention All-CCC. For both individuals, it is their first career All-CCC honors and they are the first ones under Head Coach Chris Kemp.

Malatare was the Mountaineers' go-to option on offense this season as he averaged 19.2 points per game in 27 games played. He started 26 contests and averaged 30.6 minutes per game. His 19.2 points per game were second highest in the league as he shot 48% from the floor. He shot 83.3% from the free throw line, which was fourth best in the CCC. He was eighth in steals at 1.4 per game and ranked 10th in assists at 3.3 per game. He was also 13th in the CCC in rebounding at 5.9 per game. He scored in double figures in 24 games this year and had an EOU career high of 29 points against Whitman College. He also posted five double-doubles on the year. 

Lovelace, also in his first year with EOU, was a solid two-way threat for the 2021-22 season. He led the team in rebounding and was third in the league at 8.3 per game. He was 14th in the league in scoring, second on the team, at 13.0 points per game. He ranked 12th and led EOU in field goal percentage at 52.4%. He was 14th in steals per game at 1.2, which was second on the team. He led the team in minutes played at 30.7 in 26 contests played. He scored in double figures 19 times and posted five doubles-doubles. He scored an EOU career-high 29 points against Corban back on Jan. 29.

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