Moore named to MVC All-Bench team
MBB: The Valley also announced the league's Most Improved Team today
The Missouri Valley Conference named Murray State junior guard Brian Moore Jr. to the Valley’s All-Bench team on Tuesday.
Moore started the first 12 games of the season for the Racers before being moved to a reserve role after Christmas. After the lineup change, Moore scored in double-figures in three of the next four games, including scoring a season-high 20 points at home against UIC. After injuring his wrist against Belmont on February 7th, Moore missed the next six games before returning to action in the regular-season finale at Indiana State last Sunday.
The junior guard is averaging 9.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game this season for the Racers.
Indiana State’s Xavier Bledson earned the Sixth Man of the Year award, as he’s the captain of the All-Bench Team. Bledson started four of ISU’s conference games, and was one of only two Sycamores to play in all 31 contests this year. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds this season. Bledson scored a season-high 17 points in Indiana State’s November win over Southern Illinois.
Here is the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team
Xavier Bledson — Indiana State
Chuck Bailey III — Evansville
Tanner Cuff — Evansville
Cesare Edwards — Missouri State
Colby Garland — Drake
Johnny Kinziger — Illinois State
Brian Moore Jr. — Murray State
SIU’s Xavier Johnson earned the Missouri Valley’s Most Improved Player award. Johnson was 4th in the country scoring 22.0 points a game, and led the Valley in assists with 6.1 per game. He is just the third played player in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season.
Here is the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Most Improved Team
Xavier Johnson — Southern Illinois
Ja’Kobi Gillespie — Belmont
Darius Hannah — Bradley
Connor Hickman — Bradley
Jayson Kent — Indiana State