CHICAGO (January 24, 2018) –Clayton Custer (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest/Iowa State), a redshirt junior on the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball teams, has been selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week presented by Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, it was announced today. A finance major, the redshirt junior has earned the award for the sixth time in his career and third time this season.
 
In helping Loyola extend its winning streak to five games, and in the process, claim a share of first place in the Valley race, Custer averaged 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game, while shooting 55.6 percent (10-for-18) from the field, 75 percent (3-for-4) from three-point range, and 87.5 percent (7-for-8) from the foul line last week.
 
In a 79-65 victory over Southern Illinois on January 17, the 6-foot-1 guard produced 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, then tallied 15 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead the Ramblers to a 70-54 decision on the road over Valparaiso. Custer added five assists, four steals and a pair of boards against the Crusaders and hit all three of his three-point attempts.
 
For the season, Custer is contributing 12.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.1 apg and 1.6 spg and the Ramblers are 14-1 with him in the lineup this season compared to just 2-3 when he does not play.
 
To qualify for MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.
 
Loyola is back in action tonight when it visits Drake in a battle of teams tied atop the MVC standings. At 16-4 overall, Loyola is off to its best start through 20 games since 1965-66.