Okafor and Gordon
Earn All-BIG EAST Accolades

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (March 10, 2003)-- University of Connecticut sophomore Emeka Okafor (Houston, TX) has been named to the 2002-03 All-BIG EAST First Team, while fellow UConn sophomore Ben Gordon (Mount Vernon, NY) earned selection to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. The selections were announced Monday and completed by a vote of the 14 league coaches.

Okafor led the BIG EAST in rebounding this season at 11.0 per game and leads the country with 4.8 blocked shots per contest. He also led the BIG EAST with 19 double-doubles and averaged 16.1 points per contest. Okafor was an All-BIG EAST Third Team selection in 2001-02. He is the eighth UConn player to earn first team recognition and only the third sophomore, joining Richard Hamilton and Caron Butler.

Gordon finished No. 7 in the conference at 19.9 points per game and is No. 3 in the league at 5.1 assists per contest. He leads the Huskies in both points and assists and is No. 3 on the squad in rebounding. He has scored 20 or more points 15 times this season.

UConn, 19-8 overall and 10-6 in the BIG EAST, is the East No. 2 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Huskies have a first round bye and will face the winner of the Wednesday night contest between West #3 Seton Hall and East #6 Miami. The Huskies will play on Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN vs. the winner of that first round game.