CHARLOTTE – The Gardner-Webb backcourt earned high praise Monday afternoon, as three guards earned Big South Men's Basketball postseason honors following the completion of the 2017-2018 regular season.

Redshirt junior David Efianayi (Orlando, Fla. / Ocoee HS) was named second-team All-Big South, senior Liam O'Reilly (Austin, Texas / Bowie HS) was named honorable mention All-Big South and freshman Jaheam Cornwall (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Putnam Science Academy) was named to the Big South Conference All-Freshman Team.

Sophomore forward Patrick Zeck (Atlanta, Ga. / Marist) was named to the Big South's All-Academic Team.

Efianayi secured All-Big South plaudits for the second season in a row. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound standout ranks No. 4 in the conference in scoring heading into the tournament, averaging a career-high 17.5 points per game. He boosted those numbers in league play (17.8 ppg) and was at his best against the top half of the league – averaging 19.9 points per game in his eight games against the taking the top-4 seeds at the end of the regular season.

Efianayi matched his career-high scoring total twice – each time on the road – scoring 31 points in a win at Campbell (Jan. 3) and again in a win at Presbyterian (Feb. 22). He scored 20 points or more seven times in Big South Conference games, and ranks No. 2 in the league with 138 made free throws so far.

O'Reilly played an important role as a junior last season, but worked to make his senior season a special one in Boiling Springs. He finished with career-high numbers in several categories, ranking in the top-15 in the Big South in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (4.7), assists (3.7) and three-pointers made (82).

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder led Gardner-Webb in assists, minutes played (33.9) and free throw percentage (84.1%), as well as ranking third in rebounding. Twice he posted double-doubles with points and rebounds and added a third double-double on February 22 with a career-high 10 assists at Presbyterian.

O'Reilly had his career-high scoring total in the league opener, scorching the nets for 27 points in a win over Liberty on December 30. He was named Big South Conference Player of the Week after that performance.

Cornwall emerged as one of the Big South's top sixth men early in his first college season, and continued to shine following a return to the lineup in late January after missing five games with an injury. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native averaged 9.9 points per game over the season's final nine games – shooting a sizzling 54.4 percent from the floor down the stretch.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound lead guard scored a career-high 19 points on the road at Radford during a nationally-televised game on February 1, which topped his previous best mark of 18 points – which he scored at No. 7 Florida on national television on November 13. 

Cornwall finished the season by averaging 7.7 points per game, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He paced the team with a 43.5 percent accuracy rate from three-point range and was one of three Runnin' Bulldogs – along with Efianayi and O'Reilly – to shoot 80 percent or better at the free throw line (80.0 percent). He averaged 8.5 points per game in league play.

Zeck has compiled a 3.74 cumulative GPA as a marketing major at Gardner-Webb, and showed great promise in the paint in his second season with the program.

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward finished the regular season with averages of 5.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while seeing his first significant action on the college level.

Zeck moved into the starting lineup and finished February with 20 starts under his belt. He paced the team by shooting 57.6 percent from the floor and was very effective at the free throw line by shooting 75.7 percent.

In his first career start against USC Upstate in early December, Zeck went for 13 points and 14 rebounds in a very strong team performance. He finished with more defensive rebounds (11) in that game than the entire opposing team (10).

Gardner-Webb (14-17, 9-9 Big South) earned the No. 6 seed in the 2018 Big South Men's Basketball Championship, and will travel to Asheville, N.C., on Thursday to battle No. 3 seed and defending champion Winthrop.

Opening tip is set for 3:00 pm and will stream live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN). Legendary play-by-play man Mike Hogewood and color analyst Ralph Patterson will have the call from Kimmel Arena.

2017-18 BIG SOUTH MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
 
First-Team All-Conference
Xavier Cooks, F, Sr., Winthrop
Chris Clemons, G, Jr., Campbell
Ahmad Thomas, G, Sr., UNC Asheville
Ed Polite Jr., F, Jr., Radford
MaCio Teague, G, Soph., UNC Asheville
 
Second-Team All-Conference
Christian Keeling, G, Soph., Charleston Southern
David Efianayi, G, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
Scottie James, F, R-Soph., Liberty
Andre Fox, G, Jr., High Point
Jahaad Proctor, G, Soph., High Point
 
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Reggie Dillard, G, R-Sr., Presbyterian College
Liam O'Reilly, G, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Marcus Burk, G, Soph., Campbell
Carlik Jones, G, R-Fr., Radford
Bjorn Broman, G, Jr., Winthrop
 
All-Freshman Team
Carlik Jones, G, R-Fr., Radford
Phlandrous Fleming Jr., G, Fr., Charleston Southern
Jaheam Cornwall, G, Fr., Gardner-Webb
Elijah Cuffee, G, Fr., Liberty
Justyn Mutts, F, Fr., High Point
 
All-Academic Team
Cory Gensler, G, Soph., Campbell
Christian Keeling, G, Soph., Charleston Southern
Patrick Zeck, F, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Jahaad Proctor, G, Soph., High Point
Ryan Kemrite, G, R-Sr., Liberty
Dominic Ezeani, G, Soph., Longwood
JC Younger, G, Soph., Presbyterian College
Caleb Tanner, G, Jr., Radford
Kevin Vannatta, G, Sr., UNC Asheville
Anders Broman, G, R-Sr., Winthrop
 
Player of the Year
Xavier Cooks, F, Sr., Winthrop

Freshman of the Year
Carlik Jones, G, R-Fr., Radford
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Thomas, G, Sr., UNC Asheville

Coach of the Year
Mike Jones, Radford

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kevin Vannatta, G, Sr., UNC Asheville