Five Royals Receive 2015-2016 MIAC Men's Basketball Awards

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) enjoyed another outstanding men's basketball season in 2015-16, with countless unforgettable games and big moments. Tuesday afternoon the conference honored the season's top performers with the announcement of the 2015-16 MIAC Men's Basketball Awards. Among those honored from Bethel in the end of season awards were Trevor Hall, Bridgeport Tusler, Derek Magnuson, Brycen Wojta, and Kyle von_Schmidt-Pauli. Trevor Hall earned his first-ever MIAC All-Conference accolade as well as his first MIAC All-Defensive Team award. Hall finished second among all league players in steals (53), fourth in assists (88), and seventh in defensive rebounds (117). The junior guard averaged 11.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. He also shot 48.7 percent from the floor all season long. Hall was joined on the MIAC All-Conference Team by teammate Bridgeport Tusler. Tusler, who earned his second consecutive award, finished the season with a league-leading 64 steals and the 11th-most points per 40 minutes played (20.1). The sophomore guard recorded 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 2.3 assists rebounds per game, while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from downtown. Derek Magnuson earned league recognition in his first year with the Royals, as he was honored to the five-member MIAC All-Freshman Team. Magnuson logged 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.8 percent from the floor and 73.0 percent from the foul line. Magnuson led the league in offensive rebounds (84) and finished among the Top 10 in points per 40 minutes played (21.4). Two-time All-MIAC recipient Brycen Wojta earned Honorable Mention honors, despite missing the first seven games of the season. Wojta, who was the first freshman honored to the All-Conference Team since 2005 and the second since 1996 back in 2014, averaged 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 75.8 percent from the charity stripe. He finished fourth among all MIAC players in steals (29)—behind Tusler and Hall. As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the 10th annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for men's basketball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Kyle von_Schmidt-Pauli was selected to represent the Royals among this prestigious group.