Reading, MA – Russell Sage College's men's basketball team has been named the recipient of the 2021-2022 Sam Schoenfield Sportsmanship Award by the Collegiate Basketball Officials Association. Head Coach Brian Barnes, assistant coaches Mike Griffin, Scott O'Reilly, Taylor Baker and Guy Catz, and the team's 2021-2022 captains, seniors Jason Geronino (Orlando, FL/Colonial) and Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School) were selected for the award by the referees, who are members of the CBOA. The award will be presented to the Gators on April 30 in conjunction with the organization's annual banquet held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Head Coach Brian Barnes, noted "Thank you to all of the members of the College Basketball Officials Association for this award and honorable recognition." He continued, "I'd like to thank our student- athletes and coaches for representing Russell Sage College and the Empire 8 Conference with the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship.  I am so proud of our student-athletes and coaching staff, who work hard on a daily basis to live out our program's five core values; Growth Driven, Positivity, Togetherness, Dependability, Caring.  This award supports the meaningful work we are doing as a program in working towards being the best versions of ourselves.  This award also recognizes the total team effort that goes into a successful game day experience.  We are so thankful for the exemplary leadership of our game day administrators, support staff, student workers and loyal fans for their collective efforts throughout the season each and every gameday." 

The award is named for Sam Schoenfeld, a former college basketball great who possessed a great deal of energy, impeccable honesty and a charismatic personality, was one of the CBOA's founding fathers. Sam espoused integrity and strong character, which set him apart from most men. A brief illness took Sam's life in early 1956 and as a result CBOA decided to memorialize Sam through an award that would be annually presented to a person who exemplified the principles and characteristics so prominently displayed by Sam Schoenfeld. Accordingly, the award is presented to the college or university, which in the judgment of the CBOA membership, best exemplifies "the highest degree of sportsmanship, character, and ethics among their players, coaches and spectators."

This is the highest honor that CBOA annually bestows on any collegiate institution.

Barnes, who guided the Gators to the Empire 8 tournament once again in 2021-2022, owns a career record of 167-153 having led the program since its inception. Sage has earned post-season bids in 10 of the team's 13 seasons, while riding a streak of three consecutive post-season bids after this year's selection to the Empire 8 tournament.

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