PORTLAND, Ore. (Mar. 4) -- Central Washington University junior Mark McLaughlin (Bothell/Inglemoor HS) has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year for the 2012-13 men's basketball season.

McLaughlin, who finished the regular season as the GNAC's leading scorer with an average of 22.4 points per game, was also one of six players named to the all-conference first team. Senior Jordan Coby (Tacoma/Woodrow Wilson HS) earned honorable mention honors for the Wildcats.

McLaughlin's scoring average was nearly five points higher than anyone else in the conference. The Wildcats' 6-foot-6-inch guard was also among the GNAC leaders in steals (fifth), free throw percentage (11th), rebounding (15th), and assists (20th). He scored 20 points or more in 19 of his 26 games and passed the 30-point mark three times during the regular season.

Coby finished the regular season as the Wildcats' second-leading scorer with 11.3 points per game. The senior guard totaled a team-high 49 three-pointers, ranking 10th in the GNAC in three-pointers made per game.

CWU, which finished sixth in the final conference standings with an 8-10 record (14-12 overall), will face third-seeded Alaska Anchorage (18-8, 11-7 GNAC) in the GNAC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday (Mar. 7) at 5:15 p.m. The tourney is being held at Saint Martin's University in Lacey.