GREENVILLE, S.C. – The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) announced its 2021-22 Division I postseason honors as senior guard/forward Isaiah Hammons garnered All-America Second Team honors while senior guard Toni Kumanovic and senior forward Austin Kyle earned Scholar-Athlete accolades.
In his lone season with the Evangels, Hammons put together astounding offensive and defensive numbers. The 6-5 combo guard/forward led the team with 495 points (15.0 ppg) on a 44.4 percent shooting clip while also being the team's leading rebounder with 195 boards (5.9 rpg). Hammons was also the team's defensive leader as his 65 steals ranks as the sixth-most in a single season during the NAIA Era (2007-present) and was the team's leading shot blocker with 12 rejections on the year.
During the 2021-22 campaign, Hammons broke three different MACU records. Despite suffering a 62-57 home loss to Wayland Baptist on Jan. 20, Hammons recorded an NAIA Era record eight steals, surpassing the previous record of seven held by MACU legends Semar Farris and Brandon Williams.
At the conclusion of the season, not only did Hammons break the program's NAIA Era record for made free throws and free throw attempts, but he also broke MACU Player of the Decade (1980s) Dale Neace for the most made foul shots in a single season in the history of the program. Hammons converted on 168-of-228 (73.1 percent) of his foul shots, supplanting Neace's 166 made free throws during the 1980-81 season and Charlie Shorter's 152 conversions during the 2012-13 campaign.
For the second straight year, graduate student guard Toni Kumanovic received the NCCAA Scholar-Athlete award.
The 6-4 guard from Zagreb, Croatia has been a pivotal player both on the court and in the classroom as he currently possesses a 3.9 cumulative grade-point average while pursuing his Masters of Business Administration.
Kumanovic saw action in 33 games and made 14 starts during the 2021-22 season, finishing with a career-high 137 points (4.2 ppg) on a 38.6 percent shooting clip, including going 26-for-74 (35.9 percent) from the three-point arc while also knocking down a team-best 90 percent from the foul line (27-for-30).
Kumanovic also notched a career-best floor game, finishing with 102 rebounds (3.1 rpg), 41 assists (1.2 apg) and 22 steals to go with four blocks.
Breaking into double-digit scoring four times, Kumanovic tied a career-high 15 points in a 71-68 loss at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 18 before recording another 15-point performance in a crucial 84-75 home win over Southwestern Christian on Jan. 24.
Also earning Scholar-Athlete accolades was senior forward Austin Kyle. Suiting up in two games for the MACU men's basketball varsity team, Kyle was a pivotal player for the MACU JV men's basketball team.
Kyle is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Psychology at Mid-America Christian and has amassed a 3.71 GPA in his academic career.
Overall, Mid-America Christian wrapped up another highly successful 2021-22 campaign that saw the Evangels record their sixth 20-plus win season in the last eight years, going 20-13 and were selected to the NAIA National Championship Tournament for the fourth straight year and the seventh time in the last nine campaigns.
