May 26, 2005
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Coming off a campaign in which he started every game, led Army in scoring and earned second-team All-Patriot League honors, Black Knight sophomore guard Matt Bell will receive the 2005 Roosma Award, presented to the men's basketball team's Most Valuable Player, Friday afternoon during the Academy's Convocation Awards ceremony at Eisenhower Hall.
Bell, who became the first Army performer since 2002 to earn postseason Patriot League accolades when he was tabbed by the loop's coaches as a member of the all-league second team, averaged 14.3 ppg. this past winter. He ranked third among league players in scoring after compiling 386 markers. He will enter his junior campaign ranked 58th on Army's all-time scoring ladder (562 points).
The Kokomo, Ind., native is the first sophomore to capture the Roosma Award since Chris Spatola was named the Black Knights' MVP following the 1999-2000 season. In addition to topping the squad in scoring, Bell listed second among the regulars in rebounding (3.3 rpg.), second in assists (2.15 apg.) and third in steals (0.63 spg.).
"Matt was one of our most consistent players all season. He led us in scoring, but he was much more than just a scorer," said Army head coach Jim Crews. "He distributed the basketball to his teammates, consistently battled for rebounds and found ways to get to the foul line. Through hard work and determination, he's turned himself into a player other teams need to respect."
The Roosma Award is named in honor of John Roosma, who lettered five times in basketball before graduating in 1926. Roosma, who was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961, remains the only Army basketball player elected to the Hall of Fame as a player. In all, six people with ties to the Army program have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Roosma graduated as Army's all-time scoring leader, having compiled 1,126 points in his 74 career appearances (15.2 ppg.). Roosma retired from the Army as a colonel in 1956 following 31 years of service.
Bell recorded 19 double-digit scoring performances during his 27 game showings in 2004-05. He concluded the season with a seven-game double-figure scoring streak. Bell averaged 16.2 ppg. over his final 11 games, including 10 double-digit performances. His sparkling 20-point effort on Jan. 23 helped Army defeat Navy 63-43 at West Point's Christl Arena, giving the Black Knights their largest win over the Midshipmen in 35 years.
Twice last winter Bell registered 30 or more points, accounting for two of the Patriot League's five 30-point performances of the year. He forged a career-high 34 points in Army's 77-71 loss to New Hampshire on Nov. 28, before tallying 30 markers in a 76-73 home loss to Lafayette on Feb. 13. Bell's superb outing at New Hampshire helped earn the sophomore his first Patriot League Player of the Week certificate.
A starter in all 54 games of his career, Bell had team highs in field goals (117), field goal attempts (301), three-point field goals (41), three-point field goal attempts (104), free throws (111) and free throw attempts (137) in 2004-05.