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MVNU's Thompson to Receive Ron Holmes Memorial Award
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

Photo of Andrew Thompson

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Andrew Thompson, 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’ home game against Ohio Dominican 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 leading scorer. 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 achievements that Holmes did. The recipient is selected following his sophomore or junior season, and the award is presented at a game during the following year at MVNU.

Thompson, a 6-foot senior guard from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is in the midst of closing out a stellar career for the Cougars. The former Mount Vernon High School star is averaging 11.6 points per game and is second on the team with 63 three-pointers made. He is also shooting 81.1 percent at the free throw line (30-for-37) and has compiled 58 assists, 48 rebounds, and 17 steals.

For his career, Thompson has seen action in 124 games as the team has posted an 83-45 during that span. He ranks 23rd in school history with 1,146 career points and tenth in career three-pointers made with 225.

Among Thompson’s honors, he was named to the AMC South Division Second Team and the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Second Team as a junior as well as being selected as an NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American.

A standout in the classroom as well, Thompson has posted a 3.742 grade point average as an Integrated Social Studies major. He was named to the NAIA Division II and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete Teams as a junior and is up for both honors again this season. He also serves as the president of the MVNU chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

"I had the privilege of coaching Ron in my first year here,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. "He was a great talent, but beyond that he was humble, very coachable, and loved by his teammates. Andrew possesses those same qualities. He handles himself with class on and off the court and he goes out of his way to build up his teammates. He has been a tremendous role model for our players and the young kids who look up to him. He has been a big part of our success, and it has truly been my privilege to be his coach.”

Thompson becomes the third Cougar to receive this award in its thirteenth year of existence. Former MVNU standouts Kenny Chaffin (1999-2000) and Phil Argento (2001-2002) were previous recipients.

The Cougars, who are currently 19-8 overall and 10-5 in the AMC South Division and ranked 19th in the latest NAIA Division II poll, can clinch a berth in the AMC Tournament with a win over the Panthers (12-12, 7-8 AMC South) on Saturday. Ohio Dominican defeated MVNU 85-72 in Columbus on January 21.