BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Mid-South Conference announced the 2025-26 men's basketball postseason awards and the No. 1 Freed-Hardeman University Lions were well represented. 

For leading the Lions to a perfect 12-0 league record, Drew Stutts was voted as the MSC Coach of the Year, while his assistant Grant Burns was honored as MSC Assistant Coach of the Year. This year's Lions led the league in nearly every statistical category including points per game (86.6), field goal percentage (49.6%) while allowing the league low in both categories: 61.4 points per game and 37.4% field goal percentage.

FHU's defense was led by Rico Sain who was selected as the conference's defensive player of the year while earning a spot on the first all-conference team. Sain led the MSC with 66 steals with a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio. Sain averaged 12.0 points per game while shooting 53.1% from the floor.

Blake Dean was selected as a first team player after leading the conference with a 44.8% clip from beyond the arc. He led FHU with 52 made 3-pointers and averaged 9.8 points per game.

Earning FHU's final athletic distinction was Phil Horton's first team selection. Horton led FHU's offense with 13.1 points per game while also snagging a team-high 184 rebounds. Horton's swansong included six double-doubles. Horton also qualified to the Mid-South Conference Academic All-Conference team, which has a requirement of an institutional GPA of 3.25 or better.

Jamarcus Powell was chosen as FHU's Champion of Character. The MSC recognizes a Champions of Character Team for each championship sport. The student-athletes honored on the Champions of Character Team were nominated by their coaches based on their leadership on and off campus, as well as their demonstration of the five core character values of the NAIA.