Serves as quarterback of Rockets’ offense...Has started 63 straight games since beginning of 2005-06 season...Much-improved shooter who can also penetrate to the basket...Puts pressure on opposing point guards with his quickness and defensive prowess...Helps trigger Rockets’ ball-hawking defense.

Started all 32 contests and ranked third on team with 31.0 minutes per game...Became second Rocket ever to earn MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors...Named MAC West Division Player of Week (Jan. 29) after leading team to wins over Buffalo (Jan. 24) and Miami (Jan. 27)...Led team with 4.2 assists per game (4th in MAC)...Ranked third in MAC with 1.71 assist/turnover ratio...Averaged 10.7 ppg with 40.4 3PTFG% (19-of-47) in conference play...Top three scoring outputs of season came vs. Akron (16 pts.), Ohio (16 pts.) and Miami (15 pts.)...Dished out season-high eight assists vs. Western Michigan (1/13) and Northern Illinois (1/21).

Started all 31 contests and ranked second on team with 31.5 minutes per game...Earned spot on Academic All-MAC Team...Led team with 4.3 assists per game (6th in MAC) and 40.0 3PTFG% (T-10th)...Ranked third in MAC with 1.58 assist/turnover ratio after leading conference with 2.30 mark as freshman...Ranked third on team and 10th in MAC with 1.48 steals per game...Tallied career-high 19 points and four steals in 67-66 win at Northern Illinois (1/24)...Equalled career high with 11 assists and grabbed career-high five steals with no turnovers in 81-58 win over Western Michigan (3/1)...Posted double-double with 11 points and career-best 11 assists vs. St. Bonaventure to become first Rocket to dish out 10 assists since Bobby Krahulik notched 10 helpers vs. WMU (1/28/95)...Made 19 straight free throws from Dec. 3-28.

Played in all 29 games and served as key reserve off bench...Earned spot on the MAC’s All-Freshman Team and was the sixth Rocket under Head Coach Stan Joplin to do so...Averaged 4.0 points and led team with 3.4 apg and 2.30 assist/turnover ratio in 19.2 minutes per game...Led MAC in assist/turnover ratio in overall (2.30) games and was second in MAC games only (2.41) and was 12th in overall assists (3.4)...Ranked third on team with 1.14 steals per game...Grabbed season-high five rebounds in Rockets’ 78-70 (2OT) win over Eastern Michigan (3/5)...Tallied season-high 10 points with a 77.8 FG% (7-of-9) in back-to-back games vs. Kent State (1/29) and WMU (1/31)...Dished out season-high nine assists with no turnovers to go along with five steals in 78-67 victory over Southern Methodist (2/19).

Guided team to 19-7 record in 2003-04 despite wearing a cast on his hand...Managed to average 11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists and earned Team MVP honors despite the injury...Averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game in his first season...Also was MVP for track & field squad.

As a sophomore - Earned Catholic League MVP and Player of the Year honors...Averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game...Ranked as the 45th-best player in the country by rivalshoops.com...Street & Smith Preseason All-American.

Full name: Kashif Lashon Payne...Age: 22 (born Feb. 10, 1985)...Son of Kenny Payne and Vanessa Doward...Father is a carpenter, and mother is a teacher assistant...Has two brothers, Kenneth and Khalif, and three sisters, Kierra, Katora and Amal...Served as assistant to the mayor in Chester, PA...Majoring in communication.

Points 19 at Northern Illinois (1/24/06)

Rebounds 6 vs. Bowling Green (3/6/06)

Assists 11 (2 times, last vs. Western Michigan (3/1/06)

Blocks 1 (2 times, last at Northern Illinois (2/22/07)

Steals 5 vs. Western Michigan (3/1/06)

Field Goals 6 (2 times, last vs. Miami (1/27/07)

Free Throws 8 vs. East Carolina (12/21/05)

3-Pt. FGs 4 at Northern Illinois (1/24/06)

Minutes 38 vs. Ohio (1/21/06)