April 7, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine senior Kevin Bland was one of 13 Anteater student-athletes named to the 2009 Big West Academic All-Conference team for winter sports.

A total of 92 student-athletes from nine member institutions were recognized from the winter sports of men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's swimming and diving.

To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests.

Bland, a business economics major, played in all 31 games for UCI this season, averaging 10.2 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds.

He ranked second in the conference in rebounding and sixth in field-goal percentage (.487).