APSU Sports Information
Kansas City, MO – Chris Horton, who propelled Austin Peay State University to a miracle run in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and its first NCAA tourney appearance since 2008, has been named first-team All-District 19 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as selected by member coaches.
That was announced Friday by the NABC.
In leading the No. 8-seeded Governors to four wins in four days, he scored 90 points and grabbed 57 rebounds, despite being hobbled with a sprained ankle for the final 25 minutes. It included a 37-point, 21-rebound effort against Tennessee Tech in the opening round and 30 points and 16 rebounds against Belmont in the tourney semifinals.
The Decatur, GA native who came to APSU as a shot blocker, Horton’s senior season was a testament to the development of his overall game. He led the OVC in scoring at 18.8 points per game, shooting 59.9 percent from the floor, and made it two seasons in a row as its rebound leader (12.0 rpg), becoming the first Gov to claim consecutive OVC rebounding titles in earning first-team All-OVC.
After being limited to seven points in the opener against Vanderbilt, he reached double digits the next 33 games. He scored 20 or more points 12 times during his senior season, including one of the most remarkable performances in Governors history when Horton scored 37 points against Lipscomb on 16-of-17 shooting. That contest spoke volumes about his offensive evolvement.
He was ranked nationally in multiple categories all season, including field-goal percentage (Top 25). However, it has been his relentless rebounding efforts that have helped him gain nationwide acclaim. He ranked first nationally in offensive rebounding (4.92) most of the season while his 12.0 rebounds per game also has him ranked in the Top 5. He tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds against Kansas in the NCAA tourney game, giving him 25 double-doubles this season—it ranked him fourth nationally. He led APSU in rebounding 33 of 36 games this season.
His all-round improvements saw him earlier this season join one of the nation’s exclusive clubs, becoming only the 13th Division I player in history to score 1500 points, snare 1000 rebounds and block 300 shots. Horton also was just one of five Division I players in 2015-16 with 1500 points and 1000 rebounds for his career.
He departed APSU ranked in the program’s Top 20 in 20 different categories, including the leader in blocked shots and offensive rebounds. He is one of two Austin Peay players in history—and the only one during the OVC era—with 1000 rebounds. Horton leaves Austin Peay ranked second all-time in OVC history in blocked shots and eighth in rebounding.
