March 5, 2015
MVC Release | Ruder Bio & Stats | McCullough Bio & Stats | ArchMadness.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri State University sophomores Austin Ruder (G, Nixa, Mo.) and Tyler McCullough (C, Fayetteville, Ark.) were both named to the Missouri Valley Conference's Scholar-Athlete Team, the league announced Thursday.
The criteria for the award dictates the nominees must possess a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average, have reached sophomore athletic standing, and played in at least 75 percent of the team's games as a starter or key reserve.
Ruder, a first-team honoree, was joined by UNI's Nate Buss, Evansville's Blake Simmons and Indiana State standouts Justin Gant and Jake Kitchell. McCullough was named to the second team along with Joe Crisman of Loyola, Karl Madison of Drake, Xzavier Taylor of Bradley and Wichita State's Evan Wessel.
Ruder has played in 30 MSU games this season, including 24 starts and knocked down 52 3-pointers in his second season in Springfield. He was named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 15, 2014 and was a 2014 MVC All-Freshman Team pick. Ruder has 14 games this season with multiple 3-pointers and scored career-high 23 points in the team's win over UALR on Dec. 4 on 7 of 10 from 3-point range. He has a 3.62 GPA in Accounting.
McCullough has played in 29 games this season with 12 starts and is the recent recipient of the MVC Leadership and Service Award for the winter of 2014-15. He earned Missouri State's prestigious student Public Affairs Award in September and has increased season free throw percentage by nearly 100 points from last season - from .625 to .724. McCullough ranks third in the MVC in blocked shots (1.2) and holds a 3.61 GPA in Finance.
Missouri State will take on Southern Illinois today at 6 p.m., in the opening round of the 2015 MVC Tournament at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
#MSUBears
2015 MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE FIRST TEAM
Nate Buss, UNI Sr. 3.50 General Studies Charles City (Iowa) High
Justin Gant, Indiana State Sr. 3.35 Criminology Terre Haute (Ind.) North Vigo High
Jake Kitchell, Indiana State Sr. 3.29 Business Union Mills (Ind.) South Central High
Austin Ruder, Missouri State So. 3.62 Accounting Nixa (Mo.) High
Blake Simmons, Evansville So. 3.83 Sport Management Newburgh (Ind.) Castle High
2015 MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE SECOND TEAM
Joe Crisman, Loyola Sr. 3.68 Finance Munster (Ind.) High
Tyler McCullough, Missouri St. So. 3.61 Finance Fayetteville (Ark.) High
Karl Madison, Drake Sr. 3.14 Law, Politics & Society (Undergrad) Springfield (Ill.) Lanphier High [4.00 Public Administration (Grad)]
Xzavier Taylor, Bradley So. 3.68 Social Work Chicago (Ill.) Morgan Park High
Evan Wessel, Wichita State Jr. 3.28 Management Wichita (Kan.) Heights High
2015 MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Ka'Darryl Bell, Bradley Jr. 3.25 Communications (Sports Comm.) Chicago (Ill.) Oak Park-River Forest High
Max Martino, UNI Sr. 3.82 Economics & Psychology Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kennedy High
Jeremy Morgan, UNI So. 3.33 Undecided Coralville (Iowa) Iowa City West High
Nate Wells, Bradley Jr. 3.32 Communications (Advertising) Davenport (Iowa) West High
