BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Mid-South Conference 2023-24 Men's Basketball Awards were announced Thursday.
Cumberlands' (Ky.) Anthony Johnson was named the MSC Men's Basketball Player of the Year while teammate Tajahri Cave is the Randy Vernon Defensive Player of the Year, for the second year straight. Cumberland’s Khi Wallace (Tenn.) earned MSC Freshman of the Year honors.
Cumberlands' (Ky.) Matt Daniel was voted the MSC Coach of the Year by his peers while his assistant, Kyle Bush earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
Johnson started in all 28 games for the Patriots while averaging a team-high 23.1 points per game. He shot 47.9 percent from the field while averaging 4.6 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists a game. Johnson has scored 30 or more points five times this season with a high of 36. He ranks first in the Conference in points, points per game, and three pointers.
Cave totaled 29 steals, 50 rebounds, and 2 blocks this season in 28 games. Offensively, he is shooting 51.8 percent from the field and is averaging 5 points per game. Cave adds 65 total assists on the season, all of this while coming off the bench for the majority of the season.
In his freshman campaign, Wallace appeared in all 20 games, making 19 starts while averaging 10 points per game. He is shooting 56.2 percent from the field and is averaging 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Wallace scored 200 points total this season.
Daniel and Bush led the Patriots to a 21-7 record and a 10-2 record in the MSC to claim the MSC regular season title, earning Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season. Cumberlands is currently ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll. Bush earns his first Assistant Coaching honors.
Ten players were named to the first team while five players earned second team honors.
2024-25 Mid-South Conference Men’s Basketball First Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Jalen Anglin |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
G |
JR |
Jackson, Tenn. |
| Demarius Boyd |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
G |
SR |
Haywood, Tenn. |
| Matthew Cromer |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
G |
SR |
London, Ky. |
| Tae Dozier |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
G |
JR |
Louisville, Ky. |
| Jaquias Franklin |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
G |
SR |
Elizabethtown, Ky. |
| Anthony Johnson |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
G |
JR |
Midfield, Ala. |
| Geraldo Lane |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
G |
SR |
Huntsville, Ala. |
| Peyton Law |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
F |
JR |
Calhoun, Ga. |
| Harry Morrice |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
C |
SR |
Dundee, Scotland |
| Jabrion Spikes |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
G |
JR |
Princeton, Ky. |
2024-25 Mid-South Conference Men’s Basketball Second Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Dre Boyd |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
G |
JR |
Bowling Green, Ky. |
| Kenyata Carbon |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
G |
SO |
Owensboro, Ky. |
| Julian Cunningham |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
G |
JR |
Buffalo, N.Y. |
| Anthony Harris |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
F |
JR |
Aurora, Colo. |
| Jay Milburn |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
F |
JR |
Campbellsville, Ky. |