Editor: The following is part of a press release from louhenson.com.
(San Antonio, TX) – Loyola’s Clayton Custer is the recipient of the 2018 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award.
The 6’1 junior really emerged in his second season with the Ramblers. The former Iowa State transfer led the team in a number of offensive categories, including scoring (13.2 ppg), three-point percentage (.451), assists (135) and steals (50).
He also ranked in the top 10 in the Missouri Valley Conference in those four categories as well as field goal percentage (.544), free throw percentage (.806) and three-point field goals made per game (1.9).
“Clayton Custer was robbed, not being named to the preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference team,” said CollegeInsider.com’s Angela Lento. “His importance to the team’s success this season extended well beyond the box score. The Ramblers were a different team with him on the floor.”
Loyola was 2-3 when Custer was sidelined with an ankle injury at midseason. After his return the team went 22-1 before falling to Michigan in the national semifinals.
Custer became the first Loyola player to be named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and he helped lead the Ramblers to the Final Four for just the second time in school history.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the nation’s top Division I mid-major player.
Lou Henson is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. He is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.
Editor: Included in the National Lou Henson All-Amerian Team were Drake’s Reed Timmer and Murray State’s Jonathan Stark.
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Three more road wins so far in @ValleyHoops as @BradleyUMBB @BelmontMBB & @UIC_MBB capture road wins. Looks like @DrakeBulldogsMB will do so too. #FatherHarry
Well @RacersWBB followed the men's example and swept Iowa in the @ValleyHoops race! Racers are 6-1 & if @BelmontWBB holds on to their Iowa sweep, the Bruins and Racers will be tied for first. What a trip for those two teams! #FatherHarry
After today's action, @EIUWBB is 8-0 in @OVCSports play. 4 teams @usiwbb @TTUWBB @LRTrojans @LindenwoodWBB are tied at 6-2. Six other teams are under .500. Great race to the finish lies ahead. #FatherHarry
Really entertaining game between @BelmontMBB & @UEAthletics_MBB. Under four minutes left in a one point game. Gabriel Pozzato back in the Aces' lineup. Rogers is playing like I've expected. Triples are dropping. It's fun and @kylejpeach bringing it on #ThePlus #FatherHarry
