LA MIRADA, Calif. --- It's been a banner year for the Biola Men's Basketball program, and it's time for the accolades to begin rolling in.
 
After leading his team to its first Golden State Athletic Conference Championship in 14 years Dr. Dave Holmquist has earned GSAC Coach of the Year honors. His starting point guard, Dakari Archer, was named GSAC Player of the Year and Terrell Funches joined Archer on the All-GSAC team.
 
"Coach Holmquist represents what coaches aspire to...he cares deeply for his student-athletes, and he inspires them to competitive greatness," said Director of Athletics Dr. Bethany Miller. "He is a wise and humble Christian mentor that creates space for growth and motivates people to achieve their best with the gifts God has given them. This season he took a special group of talented, Christian young men and made an impact on and off the court. It is an honor to serve alongside Dr. Holmquist at Biola."
 
This conference coach of the year honor is the fourth GSAC Coach of the Year honor he's received since the team joined the conference back in 1994-95. Prior to that time he earned three NAIA District III Coach of the Year honors, one NAIA District III Co-Coach of the Year honor and one NAIA Co-Coach of the Year honor.
 
"It's an honor to win that award in this conference, because there are so many good coaches in this conference," said Holmquist. "Every coach knows that you win that award because you have good players, and I had some very good players this year."
 
Holmquist led this year's team to the GSAC Championship and guided his players to a 27-3 overall record and a top-10 ranking in the most recent NAIA Top-25 Coaches' Polls. The team should qualify for the NAIA National tournament for the 20^th time under Holmquist's watch.
 
Archer earns a spot on the All-GSAC team for the first time in his three years with the Eagles. Not only that, but he's also been elevated to a position where he's selected as the best player in the whole conference.
 
The junior point guard commands respect on the court because of his creativity with the ball, and his talent has helped him to a year where he averaged a career-best in points-per-game (15.6), steals (1.8) and rebounds (3.7).
 
Archer is immensely talented at both ends of the floor and can a lot of times make something out of nothing when the Eagles are late in the shot clock and need a clutch bucket.
 
"Dakari has been an excellent player for us for the last three years," said Holmquist. "Not only does he score, but he also rebounds so well from the point guard position. He's played good defense and uses his quickness and strength to create things. He's been a joy to coach ever since he came in as a freshman and I am just really excited that he won this award."
 
Joining Archer on the all-conference team is his teammate, senior guard Terrell Funches. Earlier in the day Funches was honored as the conference's player of the week for his huge performance against No. 5 Hope International on Saturday. Now, he's rewarded for the work he's done all season.
 
Funches is in his first and last season with the Eagles, and his role on the team is absolutely irreplaceable. He's been just as creative and effective as Archer all season long and has used his strength to get to the basket and convert high percentage looks throughout the year.
 
He averaged 15.7 points-per-game and 4.8 rebounds-per-game as he and Archer formed a dominant backcourt for Biola's conference championship run. His defense was what made him especially dominant, as coach Holmquist would always assign him to defend the other team's best perimeter player. In the GSAC, just about every team's best perimeter player is the team's best player as a whole as the conference has a lot of great shooters.
 
"Terrell has been at his best in big games and he's made a huge difference this year," said Holmquist. "He integrated so well with the team and is very coachable and very likeable."
 
Funches, Archer and the team are back in action on Saturday March 5 as they face the winner of a matchup between Westmont and Arizona Christian in the GSAC Tournament semifinals at Hope International.