GROSS NAMED TO THE BEVO FRANCIS TOP 50 WATCH LIST
RIO GRANDE, Ohio – Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball center, Alex Gross, was named to the Small College Basketball Bevo Francis Top 50 Watch List as the organization announced the narrowed down list on Tuesday afternoon.
Gross becomes the second Tiger to be named to this list and first since Nic Reed in 2020, who finished in the Top 15. Gross is the only Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) player to make this prestigious list this season. Gross is also one of 19 NAIA players represented on the watch list as well.
Gross has had a record-setting season for the Tigers. The Tiger big man is the leader in the NAIA averaging 14.1 rebounds, totaling 380 total rebounds, and blocking 93 shots. Gross is second in the NAIA averaging 3.4 blocks a game, fourth in total field goals made with 239, and fifth in total assists with 147. The ONU big man is also 11th nationally, averaging 22.0 points a game. Gross is also 14 rebounds away from breaking the ONU men's basketball program record for the most rebounds a single season that was set in the 1968-69 season.
The Hope, Ind. native has tallied a pair of triple-doubles and 24 double-doubles this season. Gross is a six-time CCAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week and is a two-time NAIA Men's Basketball Player of the Week selection. As a team, the Tigers are ranked 13th in the latest NAIA Top-25 poll, holding a 25-3 overall record and are in first place in the CCAC with a 19-1 mark.
The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements. This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season.
The list will be narrowed down to the top 25 on Tuesday, March 15 and the finalists will be determined on Saturday, April 2nd. The winner will be announced on Monday, April 4th.
Click Here to learn more about the award and to find the full list.
--ONU—
*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu