David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) and Will Lovings-Watts (Jeffersonville, Ind./Putnam Science) of the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team have been recognized by the Mid-American Conference as the league announced its all-conference and specialty award winners on Wednesday (March 13). Coit was named to the All-MAC Third Team while Lovings-Watts earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team.

Coit led the MAC in scoring in league play, averaging 22.8 points per game in conference action, he is second in scoring overall at 20.8 points per contest. The Columbus, N.J. native also led the league overall in three-point field goals per game (3.24) and free throw percentage (88.5 percent). Coit was also sixth in the league in assists, with 3.4 per contest, and ranked seventh with a 1.40 assist/turnover ratio.

In 29 games played, Coit scored in double figures 28 times, with 16 games of 20-plus points and four game of 30-plus points, which includes a career-best 37 in the season finale victory at Buffalo.

Coit eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark at Akron (March 2), becoming just the fourth player in NIU history to reach that milestone in two seasons, joining Kenny Battle (1984-86), Jim Bradley (1971-73) and Xavier Silas (2009-11). Coit has scored 1,051 points in his two seasons as a Huskie to rank 31st in program history in scoring. He also finished the season with 94 three-point field goals, a new NIU single-season record, breaking the previous mark of 87, set by Eugene German in 2018-19.

Nationally, Coit ranks 12th in three-point field goals per game, 24th in scoring and 26th in free throw percentage.

This marks the second consecutive season in which Coit has earned Third Team All-MAC honors, he becomes the first Huskie to claim multiple all-league recognitions since German collected three-straight between 2017-18 and 2019-20.

Lovings-Watts is the first Huskie named to the MAC All-Freshman Team in seven seasons. He finished his rookie season averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, increasing that production in league play to 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest.

The Jeffersonville, Ind. native started 13 games during his freshman season, including 10 in conference play, and scored in double figures eight times.

He recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in NIU’s road victory over MAC regular season champion Toledo (Feb. 27), becoming the first Huskie freshman to post a double-double since Tyler Cochran during the 2019-20 season.

Lovings-Watts is the just the eighth Huskie all-time to earn MAC All-Freshman Team honors, joining Todd Peterson (2002-03), Darion “Jake” Anderson (2007-08), Mike DiNunno (2009-10), Abdel Nader (2011-12), Aaric Armstead (2013-14), Marshawn Wilson (2015-16) and Eugene German (2016-17).

2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball All-MAC Teams & Specialty Award Winners

Coach of the Year: Tony Barbee, Central Michigan

Player of the Year: Enrique Freeman, Senior, Forward, Akron*

Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Pritchard, Junior, Guard, Central Michigan

Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Cochran, Junior, Guard, Toledo

Freshman of the Year: Javan Simmons, Forward, Toledo*

Sixth Man of the Year: JaVaughn Hannah, Sophomore, Guard, Western Michigan

* – unanimous selection by 11 opposing head coaches

All-MAC First Team

Ali Ali, Senior, Guard, Akron

Enrique Freeman, Senior, Forward, Akron

Marcus Hill, Junior, Guard, Bowling Green

Anthony Pritchard, Junior, Guard, Central Michigan

Ra’Heim Moss, Junior, Guard, Toledo

All-MAC Second Team

Basheer Jihad, Junior, Forward, Ball State

Rashaun Agee, Senior, Forward, Bowling Green

Jaylin Hunter, Senior, Guard, Ohio

Dante Maddox Jr., Junior, Guard, Toledo

Tyler Cochran, Junior, Guard, Toledo

All-MAC Third Team

Brian Taylor, Graduate Student, Guard, Central Michigan

Tyson Acuff, Junior, Guard, Eastern Michigan

Jalen Sullinger, Junior, Guard, Kent State

David Coit, Junior, Guard, NIU

AJ Clayton, Junior, Forward, Ohio

All-MAC Honorable Mention

Greg Tribble, Senior, Guard, Akron

VonCameron Davis, R-Junior, Forward, Kent State

Anderson Mirambeaux, Senior, Center, Miami

Darweshi Hunter, Graduate Student, Guard, Miami

1. Artis White, R-Junior, Guard, Western Michigan

MAC All-Freshman Team

Arne Osojnik, Guard, Eastern Michigan

Eian Elmer, Wing, Miami

Will Lovings-Watts, Guard, NIU

Javan Simmons, Forward, Toledo

Sonny Wilson, Guard, Toledo

MAC All-Defensive Team

Greg Tribble, Senior, Guard, Akron

Enrique Freeman, Senior, Forward, Akron

Anthony Pritchard, Junior, Guard, Central Michigan

Tyler Cochran, Junior, Guard, Toledo

Ra’Heim Moss, Junior, Guard, Toledo