March 6, 2006

DALLAS, Texas - Senior center Mark Patton (Barboursville, W.Va.) was named to the All-Conference USA third team by the Conference USA office in Dallas today.

Patton joins Houston junior Lanny Smith, Memphis freshman Shawne, SMU senior guard Bryan Hopkins, along with fellow senior post player Quincy Davis of Tulane on the third team.

"I'm excited for Mark representing our program on the C-USA third team," said Marshall head coach. "He's worked hard and had a great season."

"I'm honored to be a part of such a great group of players," said Patton. "That list, right on down, deserved it. They can all really play."

Memphis seniors Rodney Carney and sophomore Darius Washington Jr. were named to the 2006 Conference USA First Team, as voted by the league's 12 head coaches and select media. The Tiger duo is joined on the first team by seniors Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson of UAB and John Tofi of UTEP and junior Morris Almond of Rice.

Houston placed two players on the second team with senior Ramon Dyer and junior Oliver Lafayette. The Cougars are joined by East Carolina's Corey Rouse, the conference's leading rebounder (10.6 per game), UAB's Marvett McDonald and UTEP's Jason Williams. The first round of the 2006 C-USA Men's Basketball Championship presented by Aeropostale begins Wednesday at the FedExForum in Memphis.

2005-06 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM Morris Almond, Rice, F, 6-6, 215, Jr., Powder Springs, Ga. Rodney Carney, Memphis, F, 6-7, 205, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind. Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson, UAB, G, 5-10, 180, Sr., New Orleans, La. John Tofi, UTEP, F, 6-8, 250, Sr., San Francisco, Calif. Darius Washington Jr., Memphis, G, 6-2, 195, So., Winter Park, Fla.

2005-06 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM Ramon Dyer, Houston, F, 6-6, 190, Sr., Wilson, La. Oliver Lafayette, Houston, G, 6-2, 180, Jr., Baton Rouge, La. Marvett McDonald, UAB, G, 6-2, 170, Sr., Memphis, Tenn. Corey Rouse, East Carolina, F, 6-8, Sr., Kinston, N.C. Jason Williams, UTEP, F, 6-6, 205, Sr., Marrero, La.

2005-06 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM Quincy Davis, Tulane, F/C, 6-9, 232, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. Bryan Hopkins, SMU, G, 6-0, 195, Sr., Dallas, Texas Mark Patton, Marshall, F/C, 6-9, 250, Sr., Barboursville, W.Va. Lanny Smith, Houston, G, 6-2, 180, Jr., Missouri City, Texas Shawne Williams, Memphis, F/G, 6-9, 205, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.