Baer Latest Red Devil to Win Top Award

Cody Baer becomes the latest in a line of Red Devils to be named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Atheltic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Baer takes home the 2023 award, marking the second straight season a Eureka College player has won and the 6th time in program history. Since joining the SLIAC in the 2006-07 season no other school has had more than three Player of the Year winners. In 12 conference games, Baer averaged 19.9 points and 12.6 rebounds, leading the league in both categories as well as a 62-percent field goal percentage. He also ranked 2nd in the league in blocks and had nine double-doubles against conference opponents including highs of 43 points and 23 rebounds, tied for the most rebounds in a single game in SLIAC history. Overall this season he was the only SLIAC player to average a double-double at 17.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

The SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year is Karl Moore Jr. from Webster University. An interior force since stepping on the court, the sophomore led the conference in blocked shots for a second straight year, tallying 45 in 14 conference games while adding 10 steals. His 75 blocks overall this season put him in the top five in SLIAC single-season history while his 159 career blocks are a Gorlok record and tie him for 7th in SLIAC history. He becomes the second Gorlok to win the award, joining Rodson Etienne in 2021.

The 2023 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year is Troy Cole Jr., from Blackburn College. The freshman started all 26 games this season for the Beavers, averaging 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds over 14 conference games. He shot 56 percent from the field including 38 percent from three-point range. Against conference opponents he ranked in the top ten in the league in scoring, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throws, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Cole Jr. is the first Beaver to win the award since 2006 when Zak Allan won the award.

For the second consecutive season, Principia College takes home the 6th Man of the Year award; with Jaquan Adams winning this season. Adams, a junior, put up 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 14 conference games, starting just one. He was instant offense, ranking 2nd in the league in field goal percentage, scoring in double figures in every conference game including topping 20 points on seven different occasions. Overall this season he averaged 17.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. 

The SLIAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year is Webster University's, Chris Bunch. Bunch guided the Gorloks to a SLIAC regular season Co-Championship, going 10-4 in conference play; a four-game increase over last season. The Gorloks put together a 10-game winning streak this season, one which also saw Bunch pick up his 300th career win. This is the 7th time in his career he has been named the SLIAC Coach of the Year.

The final award is the Team Sportsmanship award, which goes to Webster University. Recognized for their sportsmanship on the court, this marks the fourth consecutive season the Gorloks have won the award.