CHICAGO (March 3, 2020) – Marquise Kennedy (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice), a freshman guard at Loyola University Chicago, has been named Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Sixth Man of the Year, it was announced this afternoon. The 6-foot-1 point guard is the second Rambler in the last four seasons to earn the award, joining Aundre Jackson, who was recognized in 2016-17.
 
In 31 games this season, the explosive guard is contributing 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per outing, while shooting 51 percent (107-for-210) from the field and 38 percent (19-for-50) from three-point range. After starting the first six games of the season while Keith Clemons rehabilitated from a knee injury, Kennedy exclusively came off the bench in the Ramblers' final 25 contests of the regular season.
 
Kennedy has scored in double figures on 14 occasions this season, doing so 11 times off the bench. His best output of his rookie campaign came January 11 when he poured in a season-high 20 points, hitting 8 of 9 shots from the field, while adding four rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals in a victory over Evansville. He victimized Southern Illinois, scoring in double figures in both games against the Salukis as he put up 17.5 ppg. 
 
When he has scored in double digits this season, Loyola has posted an 11-3 record and Kennedy closed out the regular season with a flourish, averaging 11.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 2.0 apg, while connecting on 57.9 percent (11-for-19) of his field goal tries, in the last three contests.
 
Loyola, which has earned the No. 2 seed, opens play at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Friday (March 6) at 6 p.m. CT when it faces either Evansville or Valparaiso.