Aug. 30, 2007

Moraga, CA - Saint Mary's head men's basketball coach Randy Bennett announced today that Ben Allen has signed at Saint Mary's College. Allen, a transfer from Indiana University, will redshirt the 2007-08 season and will be eligible to compete for the Gaels beginning with the 2008-09 campaign.

"We are excited to add Ben Allen to our basketball program. Adding someone of his size and skill set gives our program an additional inside presence for the future," said Bennett.

Allen played two seasons at Indiana where he saw action in 55 games with six as a starter for the Hoosiers. Allen, a 6-11 center, averaged 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in his two years at IU, while averaging just 9.5 minutes per contest. His most productive year came when he was a freshman, when he averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per outing.

Bennett added, "Coming from Indiana, where he contributed on two NCAA Tournament teams, Ben's experience will be valuable to the program. He will need this year to improve his conditioning and his overall game so he can be an asset his junior and senior seasons."

Prior to starting his collegiate career, Allen competed for the Australian Institute of Sport, the same program that produced SMC all-time leading scorer Daniel Kickert and current players Carlin Hughes, Lucas Walker, and Patrick Mills. While there, he averaged 23.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 blocks a game and was selected as one of 12 members of the Australian Under-21 National Team.