Credit to: gopurpleaces.com
ST. LOUIS – Connor Turnbull, Tayshawn Comer, and Gabriel Pozzato were recognized on Wednesday when the Missouri Valley Conference announced its postseason awards. Turnbull was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year while earning a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Comer earned a spot on the All-MVC 2nd Team and All-Newcomer Team and Gabriel Pozzato picked up All-Freshman Team recognition.
Turnbull joined Egidijus Mockevicius as the only two in program history to earn the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honor. Mockevicius earned the award in 2016. Turnbull completed the regular season as the MVC leader with 1.87 blocks per game while averaging 2.15 per contest against league foes. He put up his best numbers in Valley play as he finished with 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
His total of 58 blocks on the season ranks 25th in the nation while his average of 1.87 per game is 30th. On Feb. 16 against Valparaiso, Turnbull recorded a career-high 27 points while converting 12 of his 15 attempts. He is the fifth player in program history to earn All-Defensive Team recognition and the first since Mockevicius in 2016.
Tayshawn Comer became the first UE player since Shamar Givance in 2021 to be named to the All-Conference 2nd Team while also garnering All-Newcomer accolades. Comer led the Aces with his season average of 16.0 points per game and his total of 127 assists. Comer finished the year as the #2 scorer in conference games, scoring 18.5 PPG.
He recorded a career-high 27 points in the win over Murray State after setting his previous mark of 26 at Southern Illinois. His 22-point game at UIC put him over the 1,000-point mark in his collegiate career. Comer was named the MVC Player of the Week on Jan. 6 while picking up league Newcomer of the Week honors Feb. 24.
Finishing one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Gabriel Pozzato earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. He wrapped up the regular season with an average of 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Over the last five games, Pozzato has seen the floor for all 200 minutes.
The 3-time MVC Freshman of the Week was the #7 overall scorer and top freshman in the conference with his average. His top effort of 28 points came in his collegiate debut at North Texas and marked the top freshman/newcomer debut in Evansville’s Division I history.
