CHICAGO (March 21, 2018) - Clayton Custer (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest/Iowa State), a redshirt junior on the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team, is the recipient of a State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award for the 2017-18 Winter season it was announced today.

A finance major, Custer owns a 3.52 grade-point average and this season was named MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District V selection. He collected MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors four times this season and has been accepted to Loyola's prestigious five-year MBA program.

On the basketball court, the 6-foot-1 point guard has helped the Ramblers to their most successful season ever in terms of total wins (30) and the team's first NCAA Tournament berth in 33 years. He was hailed as the MVC Player of the Year and is currently averaging 13.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

In addition to his exploits on the court and in the classroom, Custer volunteers at Misercordia Heart of Mercy, a center that provides care and support for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.

Other State Farm Good Neighbor Award honorees from MVC institutions include Donte Thomas (Bradley men's basketball), Paige Greiner (Drake women's basketball), Blake Simmons (Evansville men's basketball), Marie Priest (Illinois State gymnastics), Mykenzie Kostka (Indiana State women's swimming and diving), Chris Heye (Missouri State men's swimming and diving), Rose Simon-Ressler (UNI, women's basketball), Rachel Hauer (Southern Illinois women's swimming and diving) and Dani Franklin (Valparaiso women's basketball).

In order to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport during the season of recognition. The Valley will recognize 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring) for a total of 30 honorees. Institutions select their State Farm Good Neighbor Award honorees.

Loyola, which owns a 30-5 overall record and is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985, is back in action tomorrow night at 6 p.m., when it faces No. 24 Nevada in a NCAA South Regional Semifinal round contest.