Liberty senior guard Jesse Sanders has been voted to the Big South All-Conference men's basketball first team by the league's head coaches and media panel. The announcement was made by the conference office, Sunday afternoon. In addition to his on-court accolade, Sanders was also named to the Big South All-Academic team.

The honor marks Sanders' second straight first team selection. Last season, the Sugar Land, Texas native was voted Big South Player of the Year, along with receiving first team accolades.

Sanders closed out the 2011-12 regular season No. 3 in the country in assists with 8.0 per game. In addition to leading the conference in helpers, Sanders finished fifth in rebounds (7.8 rpg) and 19th in scoring (12.4 ppg), pacing the Flames in all three statistical categories.

The senior made history on several occasions throughout the 2011-12 campaign. In Liberty's game against conference leader UNC Asheville (Jan. 7), Sanders recorded 10 assists to surpass Radford's Amir Johnson (2007-10) as the Big South's all-time assist leader. Three weeks later, Sanders broke a 32-year old record, surpassing Karl Hess (1977-1980) to become Liberty's all-time assist leader.

Sanders became the first player in Division I history to record a triple-double in each of his four collegiate seasons, posting 14 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in Liberty's 84-78 win at High Point (Jan. 21). The floor general is the only player in Big South history to have four career triple-doubles and at least 1,000 points (1,221), 800 rebounds (807) and 700 assists (720).

Sanders and the Flames head to Asheville, N.C. for the 2012 Advance Auto Parts Big South Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday. No. 5 Liberty will meet No. 4 Charleston in the Southern quarterfinals at 8 p.m. The contest will be televised live on the Liberty Channel and streamed on the Big South Network.

2011-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference

First-Team All-Conference
Matt Dickey, G, Sr., UNC Asheville
Nick Barbour, G, Sr., High Point
Jesse Sanders, G, Sr., Liberty
Kelvin Martin, F, Sr., Charleston Southern
Eric Griffin, F, Sr., Campbell (tie)
Al'Lonzo Coleman, F, R-Sr., Presbyterian College (tie)

Second-Team All-Conference
J.P. Primm, G, Sr., UNC Asheville
Stan Okoye, F, Jr., VMI
Anthony Raffa, G, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
Darren White, G, Jr., Campbell
Chris Gradnigo, F, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina

All-Freshman Team
Trey Freeman, G, Campbell
Saah Nimley, G, Charleston Southern
Arlon Harper, G, Charleston Southern
R.J. Price, G, Radford
Javonte Green, F, Radford

All-Academic Team
Sam McLaurin, F, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
Mike Byron, C, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Landon Harris, F, Jr., High Point
Jesse Sanders, G, Sr., Liberty
Jay Reynolds, C, Jr., Presbyterian College
Tolga Cerrah, F, Jr., Radford
Matt Dickey, G, Sr., UNC Asheville
Stan Okoye, F, Jr., VMI

Player of the Year
Matt Dickey, G, Sr., UNC Asheville

Freshman of the Year
Trey Freeman, G, Campbell

Defensive Player of the Year
Kelvin Martin, F, Sr., Charleston Southern

Coach of the Year
Barclay Radebaugh, Charleston Southern

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Tolga Cerrah, Jr., F, Radford