By Jonathan Comey, The Standard Times (New Bedford)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- When Fairhaven's Nick Motta got to Bridgewater State in 2007, coach Joe Farroba knew he had a good player on his hands. But he didn't know how good.

"Nick didn't get as much playing time as he would have liked that first year," Farroba said. "And in that period between seasons, there's not much a coach can do other than tell a player to put the work in and get better. You never know what's going to happen. But Nick came back as improved as any player I've had."

On Wednesday, Motta's commitment to becoming the best player he can be was again recognized with his third straight selection to the MASCAC men's basketball first team. The senior's three big seasons have coincided with three of the best years in program history, and that's no coincidence.

"Nick is a really well-balanced player, a guy who does it all," Farroba said. "In terms of ability to do everything a player is supposed to do — offense, defense, rebounding, passing, scoring — he's definitely one of the best I've had here in 19 seasons."

While Motta was edged by Salem State's Brian Clark in a bid to be the conference's Player of the Year for the second year in a row, his 2010-11 numbers were almost duplicates of his junior campaign. Motta has started all 26 games for the Bears this year, averaging 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. He is also shooting 51 percent (165-325) from the field, 41 percent (41-101) from three-point range and 72 percent (58-81) at the free throw line.

If the 6-foot-3 Motta can score 41 more points this season, he'll become one of the top 10 scorers in Bridgewater school history; he's currently No. 11 with 1,385.

The Bears are 17-9, but likely need to win the MASCAC tourney to qualify for the NCAA Division 3 tournament for the third year in a row and extend Motta's career. The No. 3 seed in the tournament, Bridgewater will take on second-seeded MCLA in semifinal action tonight in North Adams.