ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State forward Cesare Edwards (Jr., Hartsville, S.C.) has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team for 2024, the league announced Tuesday.

Edwards, a transfer from Xavier University, has played in all 31 games this season for Missouri State, averaging 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest, while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 78.6 percent at the free throw line. He has scored in double figures 12 times this year with one double-double and has been MSU's first reserve off the bench 12 times.

Likewise, Edwards has led the Bears in scoring three times and in rebounding five times during the 2023-24 campaign, including a season-high 25 points vs. Northern Iowa on Jan. 3. 

Edwards is one of seven players on the distinguished list of the league's top reserves along with Xavier Bledson (Indiana State), Chuck Bailey III (Evansville), Tanner Cuff (Evansville), Colby Garland (Drake), Johnny Kinziger (Illinois State) and Brian Moore (Murray State).

The Bears, who kick off Arch Madness at Noon on Thursday against Murray State, were shut out of the MVC's Most-Improved Team honors.