GRAND FORKS, N.D. ? The University of North Dakota men's basketball team had a pair of players named to the All-Independent honorable mention team on Wednesday. Seniors Daniel Harkins (Portage, Wis.) and O.J. Harrison (Danville, Ill.) both received votes from a panel of sports information directors and head coaches from the 14 Division I men's basketball teams that played as an independent during the 2008-09 season.

Harkins and Harrison were instrumental in leading the Sioux to a winning record of 16-12 in the team's first season at the highest level of college basketball. Harkins led the team in scoring with an average of 14.0 ppg, while Harrison was second with 11.9 ppg. Both seniors started all 28 contests for the Sioux, who won five of their last six games to close out their final campaign at UND.

Harkins led the Sioux in scoring in a team-high 12 contests, including scoring a career-high 29 points in an overtime win against Minot State. Harrison was twice named the Great West Conference Player of the Week and had his first three double-doubles of his career.

The Sioux will transition to the Great West Conference for the 2009-10 season and will play a 12-game league schedule. UND will be joined in the Great West by Chicago State, Houston Baptist, New Jersey Tech, South Dakota, Texas Pan American and Utah Valley.