KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its men’s basketball postseason awards and All-MIAA teams for the 2022-23 season.
 
Thirty-eight MIAA men’s basketball student-athletes earned All-MIAA recognition for the 2022-23 season. The Association’s regular season champion Northwest Missouri swept the league’s major honors. Diego Bernard named the MIAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year while Bennett Stirtz was picked as the Freshman of the Year and head coach of the Bearcats, Ben McCollum was voted the Coach of the Year.
 
Diego Bernard, a 6-0 fifth year from St. Joseph, Mo., is the first player to be crowned the MIAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year since the 2010-11 season. In leading the Bearcats to their 10th consecutive regular season title, Bernard averaged 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game, ranking well in the league’s top-25 in all categories. His 55.4 field goal percentage (169-of-279) ranks third in MIAA standings and his 81.5 shotting percentage at the foul line ranks ninth. Defensively, he led the MIAA in steals with 61 in the regular season. With 2,129 career points, Bernard passes Northwest Missouri alum Ryan Hawkins on the Association’s career scoring list and now ranks sixth in MIAA record books.
 
The Freshman of the Year Bennett Stirtz was the league’s sharpest shooter in the 2022-23 season. The 6-4 first year from Liberty, Mo., posted a league-best 58.9 field goal percentage (126-of-214). He also hit 35-of-78 from the three-point range for 44.9 percent. Stirtz ranked right below teammate Bernard to tie for second in the MIAA with 2.0 steals per game. He also finished the regular season with 4.0 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game, which ranked 10th in the MIAA.
 
Northwest Head Coach Ben McCollum was voted the MIAA Coach of the Year by his peers for the eighth time in his career. He led the Bearcats to their 10th straight league title and top seed in the 2023 MIAA tournament with a league record of 20-2. It was McCollum's 11th overall regular season championship since becoming the Bearcats head coach in 2009. 
 
Below is the complete list of the men’s basketball postseason awards and All-MIAA teams for the 2022-23 season.
 
The 2023 MIAA Championship presented by Southern Bank tip off Wednesday, March 1 in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium. To view the tournament brackets and find more information on the 2023 championships, visit the championship center page.
 
2023 MIAA Postseason Awards
2023 MIAA Postseason Awards
Player of the Year – Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Senior
Defensive Player of the Year – Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Senior
Freshman of the Year – Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri
Coach of the Year – Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri
 
2023 MIAA All-Defensive Team
Curtis Haywood – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Peyton Rogers-Schmidt – Emporia State, Sophomore
Bjarni Jonsson – Fort Hays State, Junior
Kevin Kone – Lincoln, Senior
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Senior
 
2023 All-MIAA First Team
Jaden Wells – Central Oklahoma, Sophomore
Owen Long – Emporia State, Junior
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Sophomore
Artese Stapleton – Lincoln, Senior
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Senior
 
2023 All-MIAA Second Team
Curtis Haywood – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Camryn Givens – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Kevin Kone – Lincoln, Senior 
Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri, Freshman 
Wes Dreamer – Northwest Missouri, Junior
 
2023 All-MIAA Third Team
Alijah Comithier – Emporia State, Junior
Christian Cook – Northeastern State, Sophomore
Chris Whitaker – Rogers State, Senior 
Joey Saracco – Rogers State, Senior 
Andrew Orr – Washburn, Sophomore
 
2023 All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Gaven Pinkley, Senior 
Emporia State: Kaden Evans, Sophomore
Fort Hays State: Elijah Nnanabu, Sophomore – Bjarni Jonsson, Junior
Lincoln: Sevon Witt, Senior
Missouri Southern: Vinson Sigmon Jr., Junior – Winston Dessesow, Junior – Avery Taggart, Sophomore – Christian Bundy, Senior
Missouri Western: Will Eames, Senior – Julius Dixon, Sophomore – Taye Fields, Sophomore
Nebraska Kearney: Darrian Nebeker, Senior
Newman: Stevie Strong, Sophomore
Northeastern State: Dillon Bailey, Sophomore – Rashad Perkins, Senior
Pittsburg State: Deshaun English II, Junior
Rogers State: Sherwyn Devonish-Prince, Senior