July 3, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - Matt Betley, Paul Cummins and Michael Gruner were all named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for the second-consecutive season. Joining them were members of the 2007-08 rookie class, Deirunas Visockas and Ben Wheeler. The Lafayette men's basketball team has had a program-best five players receive conference academic honor roll distinction four times.

Betley was the Patriot League Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and graduated in May with a degree in Economics & Business. The starting forward in all 30 contests in his final season on College Hill posted a 3.50 grade-point average (GPA) in the spring semester. Betley averaged 11.3 points per game (ppg) and led the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.8 per contest.

A dual major in Psychology and Music, Cummins had a 3.69 GPA in his final semester at Lafayette. He concluded his four-year career tied for fifth all-time in career three-pointers made (162) and attempted (463). Cummins' 34.9 three-point career shooting percentage places him 23rd among Lafayette's all-time leaders.

Gruner is a Marquis Scholar, the highest academic honor a Lafayette student can receive, finished the spring with a 3.77 GPA in Economics & Business. After two seasons, Gruner is tied for 27th with a 33.7 career shooting percentage from behind the arc. The rising junior inserted himself into the starting lineup last season and returns as the team second-leading scorer. He contributed 7.5 ppg and had the best assist/turnover ratio on the team (1.66).

Visockas has yet to declare a focus to his studies at Lafayette, but recorded a 3.25 GPA in the spring. He started his first collegiate game at Stony Brook, playing in 23 games his rookie season. Visockas averaged 8.5 minutes per contest while contributing just over three points per game.

Wheeler, an Economics & Business major, had a 3.66 spring semester GPA. He played in 16 games his first season on College Hill, including games at Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Mississippi State.

In order for a student-athletes to be eligible, they must earn a minimum GPA of 3.2 in the spring semester and be awarded a varsity letter. The qualifications for a varsity letter vary by institution.