ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Missouri State sophomore standout Chris Kendrix was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Most-Improved Team on Wednesday in the second round of postseason men's basketball honors released by the conference office this week.
Kendrix is averaging 12.1 points per game this season for the Bears with appearances in 28 games, including 20 starts. He is second on the club in 3-point field goals with 38, second in steals with 28 and third in rebounding with 4.9 per game.
He has shown marked improvement since his freshman season, upping his scoring average from his 6.3 points per game a year ago. He currently ranks as the second most-accurate free throw shooter in the league (.820) and has scored in double figures in each of the last nine games. In conference games, the Willard, Mo., native is averaging 13.4 points per game and 5.4 rebounds which rank 8th and 11th, respectively, in Valley matchups. He has also converted 1.7 3-pointers per game in conference play with the fourth-best scoring average in The Valley during the second half of the league slate.
Last season, then-junior Dorrian Williams earned a spot on the MVC Most-Improved Team. He and Kendrix give account for two of the Bears’ nine all-time selections to the team as chosen by the MVC beat writers.
On Tuesday, Dequon Miller earned All-MVC honorable mention honors as well as MVC Newcomer of the Year distinction, while fellow newcomers Jarred Dixon and Obediah Church earned a spot on the five-player MVC All-Freshman Team.
The MVC will announce its Scholar-Athlete Team on Thursday in the final round of postseason awards.
Paul Lusk’s Bears hit the hardwood at Arch Madness on Thursday evening when they take on the Drake Bulldogs at 8:30 p.m., in the opening round of the Valley Tournament at Scottrade Center.
