Feb. 21, 2013
Capital One Men's Basketball Academic All-America Team
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Bucknell senior Mike Muscala added to his lengthy list of accolades on Thursday when he was named a Capital One Men's Basketball Third-Team Academic All-American.
Muscala becomes just the sixth Patriot League men's basketball student-athlete to receive the honor, and earns the eighth overall selection from the League. He is only the second Patriot League student-athlete honored as a Men's Basketball Academic All-American in the past 13 years.
A standout both in the classroom and on the basketball court, Muscala joined many of the top stars in college basketball this season as an Academic All-American. The first team honorees are Indiana's Cody Zeller, Duke's Mason Plumlee, Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk, Brown's Matthew Sullivan and Ohio State's Aaron Craft, who was named the Academic All-American of the Year. Second-Team honorees include Ben Averkamp of Loyola (Ill.), Matthew Dellavedova of Saint Mary's, Nathan Healy of Appalachian State, Peyton Siva of Louisville and Andrew Smith of Butler. Muscala was joined on the Third Team by Indiana's Jordan Hills, Santa Clara's Marc Trasolini, Montana's Mathais Ward and Campbell's Darren White.
In order to be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore, be a starter or key reserve, and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or better. Voting was conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Muscala, a Management major with a 3.36 GPA, made the Academic All-District team last month after also doing so as a sophomore in 2010-11. He was named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team each of the last two seasons, and this year he is one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, which honors student-athletes for their success on the court, in the classroom and for their character and service in the community. Lehigh senior C.J. McCollum is also among the 10 finalists for that honor. 
Muscala is in the midst of a sensational senior year, and he is stamping his name as one of the top players in Bucknell and Patriot League history. He leads the Patriot League in scoring (19.1), rebounding (11.5) and blocked shots (2.7), and he also leads the Bison in assists with 71. He is one of only three players in the nation leading his team in all four of those categories, and he is the only Division I player in the country averaging at least 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. Muscala also leads the country in double-doubles with 19, and he ranks third nationally in rebounding.
Muscala recently joined the exclusive 1,000-rebound club, making him only the second player in Bucknell and Patriot League history to reach that milestone. On Bucknell's all-time charts, Muscala ranks second in scoring (1,916), second in rebounding (1,025) and second in blocks (263). In Patriot League history, he ranks fifth in points and second in both rebounds and blocks.
A six-time Patriot League Player of the Week this season, Muscala has helped lead the Bison into first place in the Patriot League standings with three games remaining. Now 22-5 overall and 9-2 in the Patriot League, Bucknell has a one-game lead over Lehigh and a two-game cushion over Lafayette. The Bison are back in action on Sunday at Noon at home against Holy Cross.
For the full Capital One Men's Basketball Academic All-America team and release, go here
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