Sophomore forward Tom Sellers and freshman walk-on Dave Pygon quit the men’s basketball Monday citing academic reasons, according to NIU coach Jim Rosborough.

“Tom has decided to pursue academic and other interests,” Rosborough was quoted as saying in an NIU Sports Information release yesterday. “Both will remain at NIU to complete their degrees. Tom has been a good team member. He’s a very bright person and has a good future in whatever career he pursues.”

Sellers, 6-foot-8, 200-pounds, was red-shirted during the 1985-86 season and played in 14 games as a freshman in 1986-87. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game last season. Sellers established career highs of six points and seven rebounds last season in NIU’s win over Rollins College. He also missed 11 games with a fractured jaw. He had seen action in two of the team’s four games this season and did not score.

Sellers played his high school basketball at Downers Grove South and was recruited by former NIU coach John McDougal.

Pygon, a 5-foot-11, 166 pound guard, attended St. Rita High School last season. He appeared only in NIU’s opener against Beloit College, which the Huskies won 79-51. He made a three-point shot for his only collegiate points.

“Dave simply felt that he did not have the time to compete academically and spend the time on the basketball floor,” Rosborough said. “I’m totally supportive of that concern.”

Neither of the players could be reached for comment.

The loss of the two players drops Rosborough’s roster to 13 players.