LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Terrell Funches and Dakari Archer formed a formidable backcourt for 51ÂÜÀò Men's Basketball from wire to wire during the Eagles' remarkable 2015-16 season.
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"They were both great players for us," said Head Coach Dr. Dave Holmquist. "They were our two primary scorers and both of them rebounded their position well. Both of them were very good in big games."
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The pair combined for 32 points and double-digit rebounds while leading the team to a round of 16 appearance at the 2016 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. Now, they both hold the title of NAIA All-American.
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On Thursday afternoon the NAIA national office released its first, second and third team All-Americans and Holmquist's No. 9-ranked squad had the two players representing the team with the honors.
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It is the first NAIA All-American honors for Archer, a junior point guard, and Funches, a senior two guard. Archer landed a spot on the first team and Funches found a spot on the third team.
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"Dakari gives us someone who can not only score, but also run a team by creating for other people," said Holmquist.
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Archer becomes 51ÂÜÀò's first NAIA All-American First Team player since Matt Garrison took home those honors in the 1996-97 season. Archer is the fourth player in program history (since 1960) to land on the first team.
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For Funches this All-American honor will be another sweet way to look back and celebrate his one season with the Eagles. He will certainly be missed next season, but for this one golden season it sure was a treat to have a player like him helping this team reach new heights.
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"Terrell gave us a big guard who could defend well," said Holmquist. "The work together so well on the court and the guard position was so strong for us this year because we had those two."
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2015-16 is the first season since 2001-02 that 51ÂÜÀò Men's Basketball had multiple players earn NAIA All-American honor on either the first, second or third team. Nate Strong landed second team honors and Kevin Augustine placed on the third team during that season.

51ÂÜÀò was one of just two NAIA Division I programs to have two All-Americans in 2015-16. The other was national runner-up, Georgetown (Ky.).
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The Eagles finished the year 30-4 and as the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champions. Archer returns in 2016-17 for his senior season and looks to bring home more hardware and lead his team even deeper into the tournament.
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