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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Phil Argento, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team, will be presented with the American Mideast Conference's Ron Holmes Memorial Award prior to the Cougars' conference game against Walsh University on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.

The Ron Holmes Memorial Award is given each year by the AMC in honor of the former MVNU basketball standout who was tragically killed in a car accident prior to his senior season in 1991. Holmes, who is regarded by many as the best player in Cougar basketball history, was just 418 points shy of becoming the program's all-time scoring leader. He still ranks sixth in career points (1,824) and holds the school record for best career scoring average at 18.2 points per game. He also holds the school records for free throws made and attempted in a game, season, and career.

The Ron Holmes Memorial Award was implemented on behalf of the conference coaches to recognize a player who exhibits the same outstanding basketball ability, character, and academic achievement that Holmes did. The recipient is selected following his junior season, and the award is presented the following year in a game at MVNU.

Argento, a 6-foot-2 senior guard from Grafton, Ohio, is in the midst of one of the finest individual seasons in Cougar basketball history. The former Lutheran West High School standout is averaging 23.2 points per game and has nailed 117 three-pointers.

Earlier this week, Argento became the all-time leader in career three-pointers in Ohio college history and he now ranks eleventh nationally with 433 treys. He is also 64 points away from equaling the MVNU record for career points currently held by Steve Gregory (2,242 points from 1987-1991). Read complete story here.

Among Argento's many honors, he was selected as the AMC Freshman of the Year in 1999-2000, named to the AMC Honorable Mention list in 2000-2001, and was an AMC First Team pick in 2001-2002. He was also chosen to the NAIA Division II Honorable Mention All-American Team and the National Christian College Athletic Association All-American Second Team in 2001-2002 as the Cougars went 24-11 and won the NCCAA national title.

A standout in the classroom as well, Argento is a Business Administration major with a 3.2 grade point average. He is the son of Phil and Marti Argento.

"Having coached Ronnie, it is always special when one of our players receives this award," said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. "I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Phil. He is a strong student, a great person, and one of the best players to ever put on an MVNU jersey."

Argento becomes the second Cougar to receive the award in its tenth year of existence. Former standout Kenny Chaffin was the 1999-2000 honoree.

MVNU is currently 16-9 overall and 5-8 in the AMC South Division. The Cougars have three remaining conference games and six regular-season games left overall.