Almodovar named 2024-25 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year; Panagiotounis chosen as All-Liberty League First Team

3/4/2025 12:00:00 PM | By: Pearllan Cipriano, sports information director

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College men's basketball team picked up two awards for the first time since 2019 on Tuesday as the league office announced the 2024-25 All-Liberty League teams.

Azriel Almodovar was chosen as the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year, while Lazaros Panagiotounis was named to the All-Liberty League First Team. It is the first time in program history that a Raptor received a major award (DPOY/ROY/POY) and a Raptor was named to the First Team.

Almodovar led the conference in steals per game and total steals. He averaged 2.6 steals per game, including multiple steals in 19 of 25 games this season, and ranks 19th nationally. He stole a career-high seven steals against Union and in the same game became the first Raptor to have 7+ points, 7+ rebounds, 7+ steals and 7+ assists in a game. His 66 total steals this season is a career high, ranks 25th nationally, and places him second in program history with 216 career steals.

The Raptors' main point guard, Almodovar ranked seventh in the league in rebounds, averaging 7.1 per game, and fourth in defensive rebounds with 5.5, including 20 games with five or more rebounds per game. He totaled 177 rebounds this season, another career season high. He ranks fifth all-time in career rebounds with 602 rebounds. He dished out 89 assists, which ranks third in the conference and his 3.6 assists per game also placed him third in the league.

Not just a defensive player, Almodovar averaged 11.0 points per game, including 14 games in double digits and a season-high 22 points against RIT. He averaged 75.7% (78-of-103) from the free-throw line, ranking sixth in the league.

"AZ has been a defensive gamechanger for his entire career," said head coach Dave Sloan. "He set the tone for our defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in both field goal percentage defense and defensive rebounds. I couldn't be more proud of the work that he's put in!"

Panagiotounis received his second career All-Liberty League award after being named to the All-Liberty League Second team last season. Panagiotounis had a career season, scoring 449 points while totaling 59 assists, 27 steals, and 133 rebounds. He is the first Raptor to repeat as an All-Liberty League honoree.

Panagiotounis scored at incredible volume and efficiency for the Raptors this season, finishing second in the conference in scoring at 18.0 points per game. He was fourth in total points scored in a season. He scored 20+ points in 13 games and posted double figures in 22 out of 25 games, including a season-high 28 points against Vassar.

Panagiotounis ranks third in three-pointers per game (2.5), totaling 62 three-pointers made, and sixth in three-point percentage (30.4) among qualified players. Panagiotounis made three or more three-pointers in 11 games, including a season-high six three-pointers against both Washington College and Merchant Marine. He ranked seventh in the league in field-goal percentage (35.2%). He also regularly got to the free-throw line, ranking eighth in the league in free-throw percentage (71.1) and making 113 out of 159 free-throw attempts.

Sloan added, "Watching Laz develop as our go-to scorer has been amazing to see. I am beyond proud of his consistency on a daily basis in both his approach and his performance. His work ethic and the dedication to his craft enabled him to blossom into one of the toughest guards in the Liberty League."

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