WESTWOOD, Mass. -- Wheaton College (Mass.) senior Jaden Keliher (Amesbury, Mass.), juniors Ty Murphy (Dedham, Mass.), Tarmo Tari (Chelmsford, Mass.), Khaled Thaher (Amman, Jordan) and sophomores Tristan Herry (East Taunton, Mass.), Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) and Sal Pedevillano (Parsippany, N.J.) were named to the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Academic All-Conference Team, it was announced by the league.

Honorees must have met the following criteria: earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2023 fall semester, achieved second year academic status at their institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season. 

The total of seven Lyons to earn a spot on the Academic All-Conference team is the most in program history and is tied for the most in the league this season. 

Keliher is named for the third straight year for Wheaton. The senior enjoyed a career year, averaging 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds, while ranking among the best free throw shooters on the team with a 78.6% (22-28) mark. The Business and Management major saw action in 23 games and netted a career-high 13 points vs. Springfield College on January 27.

Despite missing time due to injury, Murphy still led the Lyons in scoring with a 12.8 points per game clip. The Business and Management major was also dependable at the free throw line, making his shots at a 79.4% (27-34) success clip, while averaging 1.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds. The junior poured in a career-high 30 points at Babson College on January 11. 

In a common theme throughout the team, Tari also registered career-high numbers throughout the season. The junior averaged 2.8 points and 2.4 rebounds and was excellent from the free throw line making 17 of 20 attempts for an 85% mark. The Marketing major played in 24 games and showed a penchant for the three-pointer, canning 10 treys in 24 attempts for a 41.7% success rate. 

Thaher started 11 of 25 games and averaged a career-best 7.2 points to go with 5.0 rebounds and 23 total blocks on the season. The Business & Management major shot 45.9% (68-148) from the floor and ranked eighth in the league with 0.9 blocks per game. The forward netted double digits in points on 10 occasions and recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds vs. Salve Regina University on January 9.

Herry started all 25 games and averaged 10.3 points per game to go with 3.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 78.0% (78-100) from the free throw line. The sophomore scored 10 or more points on 11 occasions and was among the NEWMAC's best on-ball defenders, while willing to take multiple charges per game. The Business major dropped a career-high 27 points at Clark University on December 6.

Morrissey, along with Herry, was one of just two players to start in every game for Wheaton. The sophomore netted 9.0 points per game and was among the conference's best rebounders with 8.4 boards per game to stand third in the league. The Nursing major shot 46.5% (92-198) from the floor and notched double digits in either points or rebounds in 16 contests, while posting three double-doubles.

Pedevillano received opportunity with more playing time and did not disappoint, averaging 8.2 points per game to go with 2.6 rebounds. The sophomore sharpshooter knocked down 43.8% (42-96) of his three-point field goal attempts to place fourth in the league for percentage and was eighth with 1.7 trifectas made per game. The Biology major erupted for a career-high 22 points at Salve Regina University on February 3.

The Lyons finished the season with a 15-10 record, including 9-7 in league play to mark their highest season win-total since 1999-2000 and their highest finish in the conference standings (third) since 2008-09. Wheaton was outstanding at home, posting a 10-3 record at Emerson Gymnasium for the second-highest victory tally on the Wheaton campus in program history. The Lyons were among the best defensive teams in the nation, ranking 30th in both scoring defense (65.7 ppg.) and field goal percentage defense (39.4%).