INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - McKendree University men's basketball gained four individual Great Lakes Valley Conference honors for the 2022-23 season as announced by the league office on Wednesday morning.
Senior guard Bryson Bultman was named to the All-GLVC First Team by unanimous selection, adding to his arsenal of accolades from previous seasons, including 2021-22 First Team, 2020-21 First Team, and 2019-20 Freshman of the Year. Bultman has proved a large presence on both ends of the floor for the Bearcats, averaging 16.6 points (2nd in GLVC), 6.4 rebounds (7th in GLVC), and 5.2 assists (2nd in GLVC) for the 2022-23 season. Bultman has shot 49 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the arc, and 77 percent from the free throw line while tallying four double-doubles on the season and posting a season-high 36 points in mid-January against Maryville. Recently, Bultman surpassed 1,500 career points, deeming him the Division II all-time leading scorer for McKendree (since 2013).
Junior forward Milos Vicentic was voted to the GLVC Second Team, earning the first conference accolade of his career. Vicentic ranked just behind Bultman at 3rd in scoring for the conference, netting 15.9 points per game. With a 52.9-percent field goal percentage for the season, Vicentic tallied McKendree's second-highest percentage and the eighth-highest field goal percentage in the GLVC, in addition to shooting 39.5 percent from three and 75.3 percent from the foul line. Most recently, Vicentic posted back-to-back double-doubles in the final games of the regular season.
Sophomore forward Caleb Zurliene clinched a spot on the All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in blocks for the majority of the season. Currently, Zurliene stands at 2.15 blocks per game while recording a career-high five blocks in two games this season. Zurliene ranked 10th in rebounding for the conference at 6.2 per game in addition to grabbing the sixth-highest number of defensive rebounds for the year (5.19 per game). Across Division II, Zurliene ranks 12th in total blocks and blocks per game.
Rounding out the All-Conference awards for McKendree is fifth-year senior forward Luke Hensler who is McKendree's 2022-23 recipient of the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship award. The 13 student-athletes named to the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team earned the honor because they have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior during the 2022-23 season.
McKendree men's basketball head coach George Suggs on McKendree's honorees:
"All four of these guys should be really proud of their accomplishments this season. Bryce continued his stellar performance this season and has again improved on what a great season last year. His work ethic is second to none. Milos has emerged as a force in the league this year and shown what he's capable of. He has worked hard to get to this point but has done such a great job and continues to improve. Caleb has been a huge difference-maker defensively for us and this recognition shows it. He has guarded all over the floor and was the best shot blocker in the league as well as one of the best in the country. Luke deserves as many awards as you can give a guy. He holds this team together and is a guy every coach would love to have. He's had a tremendous career here and earned this recognition."
Below is the complete list of GLVC honorees for the 2022-23 season:
Player of the Year: Kendrick Tchoua, Indianapolis
Defensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Fuller, UMSL
Freshman of the Year: Logan Applegate, Drury
Coach of the Year: Paul Corsaro, Indianapolis
First Team All-GLVC
Jack Weber, Illinois-Springfield (Unanimous)
Jesse Bingham, Indianapolis (Unanimous)
Kendrick Tchoua, Indianapolis (Unanimous)
Bryson Bultman, McKendree (Unanimous)
Isaiah Fuller, UMSL
Rich Byhre, Rockhurst
Mitch Ganote, Southwest Baptist
Quinn Nelson, Southwest Baptist
Elijah Hazekamp, Truman State
Jordan Jermain, William Jewell
Second Team All-GLVC
Max Kunnert, Illinois-Springfield
Beau Frericks, Lewis
Ben Palacios, Maryviile
Milos Vicentic, McKendree
Ikenna Okeke, Missouri S&T
Julien Smith, Missouri S&T
Lovell Williams, Missouri S&T
Bowen Sandquist, UMSL
Malik Hardmon, Quincy
Paul Zilinskas, Quincy
Mason Alexander, William Jewell
All-Defensive Team
Brock Wakefield, Drury
Jacob Hanna, Illinois-Springfield
Jesse Bingham, Indianapolis
Jakobie Robinson, Indianapolis
Caleb Zurliene, McKendree
Kaden Froebe, Missouri S&T
Isaiah Fuller, UMSL (Unanimous)
Mitch Ganote, Southwest Baptist
Kobe McKinley, William Jewell
Heri Tshiyoyo, William Jewell
All-Freshman Team
Logan Applegate, Drury (Unanimous)
Andrew Young, Missouri S&T
Matt Enright, UMSL
Timaris Brown, Rockhurst
Drenin Dinkins, Southwest Baptist
James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award
Ryce Piper, Drury
Michael Wright, Illinois-Springfield
Ben Nicoson, Indianapolis
Vlado Zrnic, Lewis
Ben Palacios, Maryville
Luke Hensler, McKendree
Kelly Vaughn, Missouri S&T
Bowen Sandquist, UMSL
Zion Richardson, Quincy
Rron Thaci, Rockhurst
Ayden Stone, Southwest Baptist
Trey Shearer, Truman State
Robbie Hanson, William Jewell
