March 6, 2002

LAS VEGAS - First-year UNLV men's basketball head coach Charlie Spoonhour has been named the Coach of the Year in District VIII by the United States Basketball Writers Association and Runnin' Rebel junior forward Dalron Johnson has been selected to the All-District VIII team, as voted by the association's membership and announced by the organization.

Spoonhour has led UNLV to an 18-9 regular season record in his first year with the program. He has career record of 337-180 (.652), which spans 17 seasons in Division I and has led 11 teams to the postseason including eight to the NCAA Tournament.

Johnson was also selected first team All-Mountain West Conference on Monday. He leads the league in blocked shots (1.6), is third in scoring (16.9), tied for third in steals (1.7), fourth in free throw percentage (.848) and sixth in rebounding (6.9).

Johnson recorded a league-high seven games with three or more blocks as well ranking second in the conference with five games of four or more steals. Johnson was named the conference Player of the Week on Dec. 17 and Feb. 18.

Utah's Britton Johnsen was named the District VIII player of the year.

District VIII includes the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

DISTRICT VIII PLAYER OF THE YEARBritton Johnsen, Utah

DISTRICT VIII COACH OF THE YEARCharlie Spoonhour, UNLV

ALL-DISTRICT VII TEAMMarcus Bailey, WyomingJermaine Boyette, Weber St.Eric Channing, New Mexico St.Josh Davis, WyomingRuben Douglas, New MexicoAbe Jackson, Boise StateBritton Johnsen, UtahDalron Johnson, UNLVStephane Pelle, ColoradoDesmond Pinegar, Utah St.