Feb. 4, 2010

EASTON, Pa. - Senior guard Michael Gruner (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine/ CoSIDA Academic All-District II Men's Basketball First Team, announced Thursday.

Gruner maintains a 3.63 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in Economics and Business at Lafayette. Coming into Lafayette from Walt Whitman Gruner was awarded the Marquis Scholar, the highest academic award given by Lafayette.

The co-captain lead the Leopards in assists with 55 (2.3 pg) and in steals with 38 (1.7 pg), ranking him fourth in the Patriot League in steals. He is averaging 7.1 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Gruner has started all 22 games for the Maroon and White this season. The Leopards are currently seated in first place in the Patriot League with 5-2 mark and 14-8 overall record. Gruner has scored in double figures on four different occasions. He scored a career-high 17 points at St. Francis (Pa.) back on Nov. 19.

To be eligible for selection of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.2. The district winner now will be placed on a national ballot and voting for the nation winners begins Feb. 9.

The Leopards return to action on Saturday at Holy Cross for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.