MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State men's basketball star
Riley Minix has earned the ultimate athletic-based award in the Ohio Valley Conference, being voted the league's Male Athlete of the Year.
He becomes just the second-ever MSU man to earn the award, joining Kenneth Faried in 2010-11.
The 2023-24 OVC Player of the Year, Minix was also a Lou Henson Award Mid Major All-American.
He was named to the CSC Second-Team Academic All-American list as well as First-Team Academic All-District. Minix led MSU to the OVC regular season co-championship and tournament title. Minix arguably recorded the greatest overall performance for a student-athlete playing just one season at MSU, being crowned MVP of the OVC Tournament. He earned seven OVC Newcomer of the Week honors and was named OVC Player of the Week five times.
Minix finished the season with 733 points, the third highest single-season total in program history and was one of only three program players to ever eclipse 700 points in a season. His point total ranked 11th in the nation following the season.
He averaged 20.9 points, becoming first Eagle since 2003-04 to average 20+ points in a season. He also averaged 9.7 rebounds (second in OVC) and was one of only two OVC players with 300+ rebounds. Minix led the OVC and ranked sixth in the nation with 19 double-doubles and ranked second in the nation with 272 field goals made. He posted 20 games with 20+ points and had three games of more than 30 points. He also compiled five games with 15+ rebounds.
Minix scored 19 points in his season and Division I debut at eventual Final Four team Alabama. He scored 18 at Final Four opponent Purdue, and had his season high of 34 points in his OVC debut at Southeast Missouri. Minix netted 26 points in the OVC Tournament Championship game vs. Little Rock and scored 27 in the NCAA Tournament against third-seed Illinois.
Following a four-year career at NAIA Southeastern (Fla.) and two All-America honors there, he finished his collegiate career with 2,767 points and 1,385 rebounds.
