Troy’s Brandon Hazzard was named first team and Michael Vogler (24) named third team on the Sun Belt All-Conference teams. (Photo courtesy Kevin Glackmeyer/Troy Unv. Athletic Dept.)

Contributed
(March 3, 2010)

Troy’s Brandon Hazzard was named to the All-Sun Belt first team, while fellow senior Michael Vogler earned a second team nod as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.

The first team honor is the second for Hazzard. He was also named to the first team following last season. Vogler was a third team honoree a season ago. Both players were named to the preseason all-conference team.

The teams are voted on by league media and its coaches.

Hazzard finished the regular season third in the league in scoring (16.5 ppg). He was also second in 3-pointers made with 72. He became a 1,000 point scorer for his collegiate career this season.

“I don’t we have ever had a player here at Troy be named first team all-conference two years in a row,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “To be back-to-back first team all-Sun Belt Conference is a phenomenal achievement for Brandon. We are obviously very proud of him.

“It’s a true testament to how hard he worked over the summer. It is a great honor one team, but the second time its even more of an honor because could have rested on his laurels after the first, but he didn’t. He worked even harder.”

Vogler is Troy’s division I assist leader with 452. He ranks second in the league with 162 assists this season and first with 57 steals.

“Michael Vogler has also made back-to-back all-conference teams,” Maestri said. “This year he made an even higher team than last year. The achievement for him is remarkable.

“There is no doubt in my mind or in the minds of any of the fans that watched him play over the last three seasons that Vogler is one of the best point guards in Troy basketball history.”

Troy was one of four schools to have multiple players named to the all-conference teams. The Trojans will be in action next on Sunday in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament in Hot Springs, Ark.

2010 All-Sun Belt teams and awards

FIRST TEAM
Nate Rohnert (Denver, SR, G/F)
Tyren Johnson (Louisiana-Lafayette, SR, F)
Desmond Yates (Middle Tennessee, SR, F)
Brandon Hazzard (Troy, SR, G)
AJ Slaughter (WKU, SR, G)

SECOND TEAM
Brandon Reed (Arkansas State, FR, G)
George Odufuwa (North Texas, JR, F)
Tim Williams (South Alabama, JR, G)
Michael Vogler (Troy, SR, G)
Steffphon Pettigrew (WKU, JR, F)

THIRD TEAM
Greg Gantt (Florida Atlantic, FR, G)
Ray Taylor (Florida Atlantic, FR, G)
Tristan Thompson (North Texas, JR, G)
Eric Tramiel (North Texas, SR, F)
Josh White (North Texas, JR, G)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tyren Johnson (Louisiana-Lafayette, SR, F)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brett Royster (Florida Atlantic, JR, F)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Brandon Reed (Arkansas State, FR, G)

COACH OF THE YEAR
John Brady, Arkansas State