Kissing named Third-Team All-SLIAC

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne junior Ben Kissing has earned St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Third Team All-Conference honors this season. This is the first postseason recognition for the forward from Marian, Ill. and graduate of Crab Orchard High School.

Kissing averaged 13.8 points per game on the season. He incurred a lower-body injury at home against Iowa Wesleyan at the end of January and tried to overcome it, but missed six games on the year, and only played six minutes at Westminster. Prior to his injury, Kissing averaged 15.7 ppg, shot 51.2% from three-point range and led the Griffins with 101 rebounds. Kissing finished the season with seven 20-point games including a career-high 28 points at Iowa Wesleyan in December, a season-high 14 rebounds at home against Principia College as he also recorded four double-doubles on the year. He led the Griffins in points for eight games and in rebounding for five games. On the season, Kissing finished second among SLIAC players in three-point percentage, averaged .528 in the field overall with 5.6 rebounds per game and closed out his final three games shooting three-of-four in the field.

Senior Lelis Djona was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team for the Griffins. Djona fled Africa with his grandmother is his early childhood and has been in the St. Louis area since he was eight years old, finding basketball as a niche. Head coach Lance Thornhill had this to say about Lelis, "Lelis' dedication and true generosity to his teammates is unmatched. Knowing his background, I find myself to model his behavior and attitude towards people and life on a daily basis. He is a prime example of respect being earned and not assumed."

For a full list of SLIAC All-Conference awards, click here.