FROM STAFF REPORTS

University of Montevallo senior guard D.J. Rivera was recently named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Rivera was one of 16 players selected, including one of just two from the Peach Belt Conference. Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year Dwight Tolbert was also selected All-American by the NABC.

Rivera has now been named an All-American by the NABC, Daktronics and Basketball Times.

Rivera was a first team All-Peach Belt Conference selection, first team Daktronics All-Region selection and a NABC first team All-District selection. Rivera was named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament team and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Division II Southeast Region tournament.

Rivera leads the Peach Belt Conference in points per game with 21.8 and steals per game with 2.5. He currently ranks sixth in scoring in the NCAA Division II ranks and 13th in steals. He has scored in double figures in all but one game in a Montevallo uniform and has scored 20-plus points in 20 games this season.

Rivera broke the Montevallo NCAA record for free throws made in a game with 14 and free-throw percentage in a game, going 14-of-14 from the charity stripe earlier this season. He also recently broke the Montevallo single-season scoring record with 698 points, which bested the previous record set by Greg Brown during the 2006-2007 season of 694 points. Rivera currently sits at 712 career points.

Rivera and the rest of the Falcons return to action tonight, March 22 at 8:30 p.m. as they take on Bellarmine University in the NCAA Division II Final Four at The Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights, Ky.