ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum University's Keegan Bell has been named the 2019 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Scholar Athlete of the Year.
The SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the conference's championship sports and is selected by the league's faculty athletic representatives committee. Winners are selected based on their achievements in academics and athletics.
He becomes the first men's lacrosse student-athlete to garner SAC Scholar Athlete accolades.
Bell, a native of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, graduated from Tusculum with a 3.72 cumulative grade point average as an athletic training major. The midfielder has been named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List, and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List all four years. Bell is served as vice president for Iota Tau Alpha, the National Honors Society for Athletic Training.
"Keegan is a shining example of what it means to be a student-athlete," said Tusculum head coach Richard Carrington. "Tusculum University provides an environment of opportunity, civic engagement, and personal development. Keegan would be the first to tell you that he did not put his best foot forward in high school, but we are extremely proud of the way he corrected his focus and effort during his time at Tusculum."
The two-time All-South Atlantic Conference honoree had an outstanding senior season as he led TU in goals scored (44) and points (59). Bell earned All-SAC first team distinction in 2019 and was the league statistical champion in goals per game (3.14 – 13th in NCAA II) and points per game (4.21 – 29th in NCAA II).
He was named a SAC AstroTurf Offensive Player of the Week as he established program's single-game records with seven goals and 10 points in a win over Lees-McRae College. He accounted for five or more goals on six occasions and led TU with six man-up goals which are third in the conference.
Bell ranks fourth in school history with 88 career goals and 134 career points. His 46 career assists are second in the TU record book.
The Pioneers posted a 7-7 overall record and finish sixth in the SAC standings. TU recorded its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in the regular season finale with an 11-10 double-overtime victory over No. 16 Catawba College.
