Missouri Valley Basketball Monday: Road wins and midseason awards

CHARLESTON, SC - NOVEMBER 21: Gaige Prim #44 of the Missouri State Bears takes a shot during a first round Charleston Classic basketball game against the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes at the TD Arena on November 21, 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

4 of 4

Bradley’s Terry Roberts /

Notable MVC awards to this point

The Valley announces specialty award winners. Like most conferences, there will be awards for the Player of Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man, and Defensive Player of the Year.

Today, we’ll tell you the front runners for those awards.

Player of the Year

Isiaih Mosley is the runaway winner right now. With his current offensive outburst, he has taken over the league’s scoring leadership (21.1 ppg). Coming into the season, Mosley and his teammate Gaige Prim, UNI’s A.J. Green, and LUC’s Lucas Williamson were favorites to win the Larry Bird – Player of the Year award.

Green is the league’s third-leading scorer (18.3) and the Valley’s pace-setter in three-point-baskets. Prim is tied with Bradley’s Rienk Mast for the rebounding leadership (8.2 per game) and is scoring just under 14 points per game. Williamson leads first-place Loyola in scoring, rebounding, steals, three-point baskets, and made free-throws. There are worthy candidates.

Newcomer of the Year

Bradley’s Terry Roberts is the league’s fourth-leading scorer (16.1 ppg), second in assists (4.5 per game) and steals (1.7). Other contenders would be Indiana State’s Cameron Henry and Valpo’s Kobe King.

Freshman of the Year

Drake’s Tucker DeVries has this award in the bag.

Most Improved Player

Illinois State’s Antonio Reeves (20.3 ppg) is a light’s out different player from a year ago.

Sixth Man

It is Garrett Sturtz from Drake unless he begins starting too much. If that happens, then the award comes down to Loyola teammates Ryan Schwieger or Chris Knight.

Next. Latest top-25 power rankings. dark

Defensive Player of the Year

Loyola’s Lucas Williamson has won this for the past two years. He should win it again, but other contenders would be Indiana State’s Julian Larry and Missouri State’s Donovan Clay.