Chris Hansen Nets CCAA Male Athlete of the Year Honors
After an All-American season, UC San Diego’s Chris Hansen has been named the CCAA Male Athlete of the Year, as voted on by the 13 conference sports information staffs across the league.
The Lafayette native who sat out the 2017-18 season following shoulder surgery, enjoyed a stellar comeback year for the UC San Diego which culminated with CCAA co regular-season and tournament titles and an appearance in the NCAA West Regional bracket.
Hansen, the Tritons’ first NCAA Division II NABC All-American, can add yet another award to his long list of accolades from the season which included honors as the CCAA Player of the Year, NABC and D2CCA All-West Region First Team and the conference all-tournament team and first team selection. In addition, he was listed on the first Bevo Francis Watch List of the season, which included the top 100 candidates for the best player in small college basketball.
Hansen led UC San Diego in scoring (14.6), rebounding (8.1), field goal percentage (54.4), and total blocks (37). In CCAA games, he led all conference players in rebounding (8.1) and free throw percentage (91.8) and was second in 3-point field goal percentage (48.4) and blocks per game (1.3) and sixth in scoring (14.6).
He recorded 12 double-doubles and scored 20 or more points in nine games. He amassed his 1,000th career point and set UC San Diego single season records for rebounds (275) and blocks. The junior from Lafayette not only led the Tritons, but also the league in multiple statistical categories, including double-doubles, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and total points and rebounds.
Hansen helped UC San Diego to a 26-8 overall record and a 17-5 mark in the CCAA. The Tritons won their third-straight, fourth overall league tournament title and second overall regular season crown. They qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fifth time and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the country.
Just the second UC San Diego male to win the CCAA year-ending award, Hansen joins baseball player Brandon Gregorich (2009-10) as a Triton honoree. Four Triton women have taken home Athlete of the Year acclaim, making Hansen the sixth in program history.
CCAA Athletes of of the Year >>>