Four Men's Basketball Student-Athletes Honored at MVC Awards Banquet

2023 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University student-athletes were honored as part of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference Teams, the league office announced Wednesday at the league honors' banquet.
 
Ben Sheppard was named First Team All-MVC and MVC All-Defensive Team, Cade Tyson was named MVC Freshman of the Year, MVC All-Newcomer Team and MVC All-Freshman Team, Ja'Kobi Gillespie was named MVC All-Freshman Team and Drew Friberg was named MVC All-Newcomer Team.
 
Sheppard added to his reputation as one of the most complete players in college basketball. The 6-6 guard posted 28 double figure scoring games, including 12 games with 20 or more points.
 
The first player in the conference named MVC Player of the Week three times this season, Sheppard was named to the Lou Henson Player of the Year Watch List and Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team.
 
Sheppard ranks among conference leaders in 16 statistical categories, including second in total points and field goals made, third in points per game and fourth in 3-point field goals made.
 
The Atlanta, Georgia native will join select company upon his next score joining active players with at least 1,500 points, 400 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
 
A 2022 First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference and NABC All-District selection, Sheppard joins program legends Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson to earn first team all-conference honors in consecutive seasons in two different conferences.
 
Sheppard was also runner-up for the Larry Bird Trophy - given to the MVC Player of Year – to Tucker DeVries of Drake.
 
Tyson burst on the scene from his opening game and delivered consistent production throughout the season.
 
Earning ESPN SportsCenter Top Play honors for his game-winning shot in the season opener vs. Ohio, Tyson posted 24 double figure scoring games in leading the MVC in scoring among freshmen.
 
The 6-7 forward scored a season-high 20 points vs. Missouri State and ranked among league leaders, in 2-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
 
Aside from his heroics on opening night, Tyson produced huge plays late in victories over Bradley, Indiana State, Chattanooga and Georgia State.
 
Tyson joins Justin Hare (2005), Ian Clark (2010) and Nick Muszynski (2019) as the fourth Belmont player to earn conference freshman of the year honors.
 
Gillespie likewise made an immediate impact with confident play on both ends of the floor.
 
The 6-0 guard had 11 points and four steals in his college debut and appeared in all 31 regular season games, averaging 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
 
The 6-0 guard ranks among MVC leaders in assists and steals and has posted 15 double figure scoring games.
 
He scored a career-high 24 points at Northern Iowa en route to a second MVC Newcomer of the Week award.
 
Like Sheppard and Tyson, Gillespie made a number of clutch, late-game plays to secure Belmont victories, notably vs. George Mason and Indiana State.
 
Friberg established himself as one of the elite 3-point shooters in America.
 
After earning Academic All-Ivy League honors at Princeton, the graduate transfer leads the MVC in 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goal percentage; the only player to rank Top 12 nationally in both categories.
 
The 6-7 forward has posted 19 double figure scoring games and holds the top offensive rating in the MVC according to noted statistician Ken Pomeroy.
 
Friberg scored a season-high 24 points at Georgia State and made the game-tying shot in Belmont's victory at Bradley.

Voting was conducted by coaches, sports information directors and a media panel (voters could not vote for their own student-athlete).
 
Belmont, which joined Gonzaga and Kansas as programs to win 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons, returns to game action Friday in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.

Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 15 of the last 17 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence