CollegeInsider.com has named Canisius junior Billy Baron the 2012-13 MAAC Co-MVP, the website announced today. Baron, who leads Canisius in scoring average at 16.9 points per game, shares the award with Niagara guard Juan'ya Green.

A team captain in his first season as a Golden Griffin, Baron became the first Canisius player since 1999-00 to be named All-MAAC First Team when the conference released its postseason awards last week. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound guard ranks fourth in the MAAC with his 16.9 points per game and his 5.0 assists per game lead the MAAC and ranks 62nd nationally. Through 31 games this year, Baron has scored 523 total points, which are the most for a Canisius player in his first season as a Griff since former Griff Ron Peaks scored 586 points during the 1977-78 campaign. Baron posted a career-high 33 points in Canisius' win at Niagara Feb. 10, and his 4.1 rebounds per game rank third-best on this year's roster. Baron was also named one of 25 finalists for the Lou Henson Award, which is given to the best mid-major Division I college basketball player in the country. That award is also presented by CollegeInsider.com.