WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson's Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) was selected as the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, earning a spot on the All-NJAC First Team, while Joey Spiegel (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) was named to the All-NJAC Second Team, the league office announced Feb. 28.

Ouedraogo leads the NJAC in rebounding (9.1 rpg), blocked shots (2.33 bpg) and offensive rebounds (3.38 rpg), and ranks third in defensive rebounds (5.75 rpg), fifth in field-goal percentage (.515) and 20th in scoring (10.8 ppg). The Dec. 17 NJAC Player of the Week, the sophomore 6-8 forward ranks 14th in Division III in blocked shots and 48th in rebounding. Ouedraogo has compiled nine double-doubles, 14 double-digit scoring games and 12 double-digit rebounding totals this season, and he is a first-time all-conference honoree.

Spiegel leads the Pioneers in scoring (12.8 ppg, 12th in NJAC) and assists (3.33 apg, second in NJAC), adding 1.67 steals (eighth in NJAC) and 1.54 three-pointers made (13th in NJAC) per game while shooting .339 (37-109) from beyond the arc to rank 14th in the conference statistics. A 5-11 guard, Spiegel scored his 1,000th career point Feb. 13th in a game against Montclair State, and he currently ranks 23rd in WP history with 1,052 tallies. A first-time all-conference selection, Spiegel has compiled 51 career double-digit scoring totals, including 14 this season.

William Paterson (18-6, 10-3 NJAC) will host Montclair State (16-10, 8-5 NJAC) in the NJAC Tournament semifinals Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship game Saturday, March 1.