CHICAGO (October 24, 2017) – Seniors Donte Ingram (Chicago, Ill./Simeon) and Aundre Jackson (Kennedale, Texas/Kennedale/McLennan CC) have been named Preseason First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference it was announced today at the league's annual media day. Loyola University Chicago is the only school with two preseason first team honorees.
 
Last season, Ingram had a breakout year, averaging 13.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and finished as one of only four players to rank in the top 10 in the conference in both scoring and rebounding. A Third Team All-MVC and MVC Most Improved Team selection in 2016-17, the 6-foot-6 guard/forward led the league in three-point field goal percentage (.458) and scored in double figures in 18 of his final 21 appearances of the season. In Valley play a year ago, Ingram hiked his contributions to 15.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg.
 
Jackson provided a huge spark off the bench last season for the Ramblers, contributing 14.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg, while connecting on a school-record 66.9 percent of his field goal tries, a figure that ranked fourth in NCAA Division I play. The 6-foot-5 forward collected MVC Sixth Man of the Year and MVC All-Newcomer Team recognition last season, ranking eighth in the conference in scoring despite coming off the bench for most of the year.
 
Ingram and Jackson were joined on the Preseason All-MVC First Team by Alize Johnson (Missouri State), Brenton Scott (Indiana State), Bennett Koch (UNI) and Reed Timmer (Drake). Thik Bol (Southern Illinois), Darrell Brown (Bradley), Klint Carlson (UNI), Phil Fayne (Illinois State), Ryan Taylor (Evansville) and Tevonn Walker (Valparaiso) make up the second team with Johnson collecting MVC Preseason Player of the Year honors.
 
Loyola was also slated to finish third in The Valley in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media. The Ramblers gathered one first-place vote and earned 321 points, to slot behind preseason favorite Missouri State (381 points) and UNI (337).
 
Rounding out the predicted order of finish was Illinois State in fourth place, followed by Southern Illinois, Valparaiso, Bradley, Indiana State, Evansville and Drake.
 
Loyola opens exhibition play on Saturday, October 28, when it hosts Lewis at 7 p.m. The Ramblers raise the curtain on their 100^th season of basketball on November 10 when they host Wright State.
 
The 2017-18 MVC Preseason Poll and Preseason Teams follow.
 
2017-18 MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Missouri State (30 first-place votes) – 381 points
2. UNI (8) – 337
3. Loyola (1) – 321
4. Illinois State (1) – 256
5. Southern Illinois – 226
6. Valparaiso – 214
7. Bradley – 182
8. Indiana State – 116
9. Evansville – 88
10. Drake – 79

 
MVC Preseason First Team
Alize Johnson, Missouri State (MVC Preseason Player of the Year)
Donte Ingram, Loyola
Brenton Scott, Indiana State
Bennett Koch, UNI
Reed Timmer, Drake
Aundre Jackson, Loyola
 
MVC Preseason Second Team
Thik Bol, Southern Illinois
Darrell Brown, Bradley
Klint Carlson, UNI
Phil Fayne, Illinois State
Ryan Taylor, Evansville
Tevonn Walker, Valparaiso