WALTHAM, Massachusetts — The Brandeis University men's basketball team has earned a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 2015-16 Team Academic Excellence Award, while rising senior Samuel Dowden of Andover, Massachusetts, was named to the NABC Honors Court.

The Team Academic Excellence Award is presented annually to teams whose rosters maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above. Six of the eight University Athletic Association (UAA) teams were recognized for this honor for 2015-16. This is the first time Brandeis has earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award in the four years of the program.

To earn a spot on the NABC honors court, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative GPA above 3.2 and be a junior or senior. Dowden currently boasts a GPA of 3.68 as a economics major. He is a two-time Academic All-UAA member. On the court, Dowden played in all 25 games for the Judges this season, making nine starts. He averaged 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Judges. His 14 point against Salem State on Dec. 6 were the second-highest total of his career.