BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore guards Juan'ya Green and Antoine Mason were selected to the 2012-13 Preseason All-Big Four First Team announced on Thursday at the Big Four Basketball Media Day at Pearl Street Grill and Brewery in downtown Buffalo.

The All-Big Four First and Second Teams were voted on by media and athletic communications staff that cover Buffalo, Canisius, Niagara and St. Bonaventure.

Green had a record-setting freshman campaign en route to being named MAAC Rookie of the Year and CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshman of the Year. Green was the nation’s second leading freshman scorer and was third in the conference with 17.7 points per game, third in the conference with 4.5 assists per game and led the conference with 1.9 steals per game.

The Philadelphia native set the school’s freshman single-season record in points (585), field goals made (188), free throws made (148) and steals (63) while also breaking the freshman single-game scoring record in a debut with 23 points on Nov. 14 and the single-game scoring mark with 35 points on Dec. 2.

His backcourt teammate, Mason, joined Green on the MAAC All-Rookie Team to become the fourth and fifth Purple Eagles to be named to the list in program history. Mason was eighth in the MAAC in scoring with 15.1 points per game and averaged 4.6 rebounds per game.

Green and Mason were joined on the team by Bona’s senior forward Demitrius Conger, Canisius’ senior guard Harold Washington and Preseason All-Big Four Player of the Year UB’s junior forward Javon McCrea.

Niagara begins the season on Friday, Nov. 9 at Oregon State as part of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. The Purple Eagles’ home opener is on Tuesday, Nov. 13 versus St. Francis (Pa.).

The Purple Eagles’ first Big Four matchup will be a neutral site contest with St. Bonaventure on Nov. 24 in Rochester, N.Y. On Dec. 8, NU will travel to play UB at 7 p.m. Niagara’s home-and-home series with Canisius starts on Jan. 27 as part of a doubleheader with the women’s teams to be aired on ESPN3 at the Koessler Athletic Center. The Purple Eagles will welcome Canisius to the Gallagher Center on Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.

For ticket information on the upcoming season, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office (located at Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX (8499), tickets@purpleeagles.com or www.PurpleEagles.com/tickets.

2012-12 Preseason All-Big Four Men’s Basketball Teams
First Team
Demitrius Conger, St. Bonaventure (12.1 ppg., 6.2 rpg.)
Juan’ya Green, Niagara (17.7 ppg., 4.5 apg.)
Antoine Mason, Niagara (15.1 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)
Javon McCrea, Buffalo (14.7 ppg., 6.9 rpg.) – Preseason All-Big Four Player of the Year
Harold Washington, Canisius (17.0 ppg., 4.3 rpg.)

Second Team
Billy Baron, Canisius (13.0 ppg., 4.4 rpg. at Rhode Island)
Alshwan Hymes, Canisius (15.4 ppg., 3.2 rpg.)
Charlon Kloof, St. Bonaventure (6.4 ppg., 2.7 apg.)
Jarod Oldham, Buffalo (4.7 ppg., 5.9 apg.)
Will Regan (1.3 ppg., 0.9 rpg. at Virginia in 2010-11)