LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The energetic game of Matt Gibson was rewarded by the Western Athletic Conference yesterday.

Gibson, a 6-foot-5 senior point guard, was named to the All-WAC second team and the All-Defensive Team.

He was the only player from the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team to be honored.

"I think I'll remember the defensive team more than the (All-WAC) second team," Gibson said. "Defense gets overlooked sometimes, so I'm glad the way I play was appreciated."

Gibson leads the Rainbow Warriors with 17.0 points, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Among WAC players, he ranks sixth in scoring, third in assists, and first in steals.

"When you put up numbers like he has, you're going to get noticed," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "I think it's nice recognition for the hard work Matt put in this year to put himself in consideration for those honors. Our success is due in large part to his ability to control a game."

Gibson is the 22nd player in UH history to receive first- or second-team All-WAC honors.

He is the ninth 'Bow to be honored for defense (the others are Vincent Smalls, Troy Bowe, Tony Maroney, Anthony Carter, Alika Smith, Erin Galloway, Mark Campbell and Ahmet Gueye).

"I'm a guy who likes to pressure and play up-pace on defense," Gibson said. "I gamble. Sometimes I make plays and sometimes I get burned. So I'm happy the coaches thought I was worthy."

Utah State's Jaycee Carroll was named the WAC Player of the Year. The 6-2 senior guard leads the conference in scoring with 22.7 points per game, and is among the national leaders for 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.

"He delivers night in and night out," Nash said. "He's the best player in the league."

Carroll was joined on the All-WAC first team by Reggie Larry of Boise State, Kevin Bell of Fresno State, Marcelus Kemp of Nevada and Justin Hawkins of New Mexico State.

The nine head coaches in the conference selected the awards.

Noting that the 5-10 Bell was selected as a first-team point guard, Gibson said with a wink: "I guess the coaches rather have a 5-10 guy over me. I don't know about that one."

Bell is averaging 18.5 points and 5.9 assists per game, although Fresno State finished seventh in the WAC and Hawai'i was fifth.

Gibson was more concerned about some of his teammates not being honored. In particular, he thought Bobby Nash could have made the All-WAC second team, and Bill Amis could have made the All-Newcomer Team.

"When you consider what those guys did for this team, playing out of position, taking on bigger guys, they deserve something," Gibson said.

Greg Graham of Boise State was named the WAC Coach of the Year, after leading the Broncos to a share of the regular-season championship. Nevada guard Armon Johnson was selected the WAC Freshman of the Year.All-WAC

FIRST TEAM

G—Jaycee Carroll (Utah State), 6-2, 175, Sr.

G—Kevin Bell (Fresno State), 5-10, 165, Sr.

G—Marcelus Kemp (Nevada), 6-5, 210, Sr.

F—Justin Hawkins (New Mexico State), 6-7, 205, Sr.

F—Reggie Larry (Boise State), 6-6, 222, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

G—Matt Gibson (Hawai'i), 6-5, 185, Sr.

G—Jordan Brooks (Idaho), 6-3, 195, Jr.

F—Matt Nelson (Boise State), 6-9, 233, Sr.

F—Gary Wilkinson (Utah State), 6-9, 240, Jr.

C—JaVale McGee (Nevada), 6-11, 235, So.

Player of the Year: Jaycee Carroll

Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Greg Graham (Boise State)

Freshman of the Year: Armon Johnson (Nevada)

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM

G—Jordan Brooks (Idaho), 6-3, 195, Jr.

G—Armon Johnson (Nevada), 6-3, 190, Fr.

F—Herb Pope (New Mexico State), 6-8, 235, Fr.

C—C.J. Webster (San Jose State), 6-8, 255, So.

F—Gary Wilkinson (Utah State), 6-9, 240, Jr.

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

G—Matt Bauscher (Boise State), 6-3, 205, Sr.

G—Matt Gibson (Hawai'i), 6-5, 185, Sr.

G—Lyndale Burleson (Nevada), 6-3, 190, Jr.

C—JaVale McGee (Nevada), 6-11, 235, So.

G—Fred Peete (New Mexico State), 6-4, 200, Sr.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.