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Gilbeck Repeats as Summit League Defensive Player of the Year; Webster Named to Second Team

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The nation's leader in blocked shots earns his second Defensive Player of the Year of the honor while Webster's consistency was rewarded.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League announced its 2018-19 postseason awards Thursday (March 7) and Western Illinois men's basketball saw two players honored for their efforts on the court.

Defensive Player of the Year & All-Summit League Second Team

#52 Brandon Gilbeck, 7-0, Sr., Spring Green, Wis., River Valley

Became the third player in Summit League history to be named the Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons... Joined Ceola Clark III (2009-10, 2011-12) as Western Illinois players that won the award twice... Currently leads the nation with 102 blocked shots… Broke his 2016-17 program record (85) for blocks in a one season... His 3.52 blocks per game rank second in NCAA Division I... Has averaged a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game (ranks fourth in The Summit League)... Recorded the first triple-double in Summit League history since 2007 with a 14 point, 16 rebound and 10 block performance at Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 7... The 10 blocks tied the single-game record for blocks at the NCAA Division I level for the 2018-19 season... Ripped down a career-high 19 rebounds at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 17... Ranks fourth in The Summit League with a 56.9 field goal percentage... Has averaged 5.6 defensive rebounds per game, which also is fourth in The Summit League... Put together five double-doubles this season... Named The Summit League Player of the Week twice this season... 2017-18 Summit League Honorable Mention.
 
Western Illinois head coach Billy Wright on Gilbeck: "I am very happy for Brandon. He's worked really hard to improve at both ends of the floor. We take pride in our team defensive philosophy and to have one of our own named Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row is a tremendous honor and is a compliment to everyone involved; and being named to one of the Summit League's All-League teams is very deserving, something he should be proud of. Brandon has a bright future and has positioned himself to have a career at the professional level."
 
All-Summit League Second Team
 
#10 Kobe Webster, 6-0, So., Indianapolis, Ind., Park Tudor

Paces the team with 16.7 points per game (ranks fifth in The Summit League)... Has led the Leathernecks in scoring 19 times this season... Leads the team with 27 double-digit scoring performances this year... His 2.0 assist/turnover is third best in The Summit League... Has played the fifth most minutes among Summit League players (33.6 minutes per game)... 95 total assists rounds out the top five in The Summit League... 2017-18 Summit All-Newcomer Team... 2017-18 Summit League Honorable Mention.
 
Coach Wright on Webster: "I've known about Kobe's abilities since his freshman year in high school and knew he had what it takes. Kobe came in ready from day one. As a freshman, he was named to the All-Newcomer Team and was Honorable Mention All-League. There are a lot of great players in this league and for a Sophomore to be recognized as one of the top players in the league says a lot about him as a player and the future of our program. He puts in the extra work and it shows. He has been very consistent, durable and dependable, on and off the court. He's always looking for ways to improve and I'm looking forward to facilitating his development over the next two years of his collegiate career."
 
The Leathernecks face top-seeded South Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m. inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
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