ST. LOUIS – Illinois State freshman guard Antonio Reeves has been selected by the Missouri Valley Conference beat writers as a part of the 2019-20 MVC All-Bench Team, announced by the conference office on Wednesday morning.
The award, given to student-athletes who have started in less than 25 percent of their team's games, is the 16th earned by a Redbird student-athlete in program history. Joining Reeves on the All-Bench team this season include MVC Sixth Man of the Year Marquise Kennedy of Loyola Chicago, John Kiser (Valparaiso), Ville Tahvanainen (Bradley), and Garrett Sturtz (Drake).
Reeves averaged 7.0 points per game while pulling down 2.5 rebounds per game. He also dished out 21 assists with 18 steals. His 30 made three-point baskets has him on the cusp of climbing into the top-10 for most three-point field goals in a season by a freshman. He is one of just four players to have played in all 30 games during the season, and he has three starts on the year. Despite coming off of the bench in nearly every game, his 22.2 minutes per game average is the fifth highest on the team.
This season he has scored in double-figures nine times, including a career-high 17 at Missouri State on February 5. Against Drake on Feb. 22 he scored 16 points while making 4-of-7 shots from long range, in addition to pulling down a career-high seven rebounds.
The other 15 Illinois State men's basketball players to have earned a spot on the All-Bench team include Chad Altadonna (1994-95), Marcus Franklin (1994-95), Antonio Cooper (1995-96), Steve Hansell (1996-97), Kyle Cartmill (1997-98), Shawn Jeppson (2000-01), Trey Guidry (2003-04), Neil Plank (2004-05), Emmanuel Holloway (2007-08), Brandon Sampay (2008-09), Austin Hill (2009-10), Bryant Allen (2011-12), Bobby Hunter (2014-15), Nick Banyard (2015-16), and DJ Clayton (2016-17).
The Redbirds open play at the 2020 MVC Tournament as the squad faces off against the Drake Bulldogs, a team that ISU had split against during the regular season.
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