CHICAGO (March 28, 2018) – Clayton Custer (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest/Iowa State) has earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America accolades it was announced this week. The Loyola University Chicago redshirt junior was tabbed Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and was also named to the MVC Most Improved Team after helping the Ramblers to a school-record 32 wins this season.
 
Custer has had a remarkable year and carries season averages of 13.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game into Saturday's NCAA Final Four contest versus No. 7 Michigan. Since returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for five games in December and early January, the 6-foot-1 point guard has steered Loyola to a remarkable 21-1 record, including 14 straight wins entering the Final Four.
 
A steadying influence for the Ramblers, Custer has helped the squad to a 30-2 mark in games he has played this season. The transfer from Iowa State has scored in double figures on 26 occasions in 2017-18, five times topping the 20-point plateau. Loyola has put together a record-setting season in which it made its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1985 and its first Final Four since 1963, while knocking off four nationally ranked teams this winter.
 
He also collected National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 16 honors and was a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District selection in 2017-18.
 
Loyola takes on Michigan on Saturday, March 31 at 5:09 p.m. CT in a NCAA national semifinal game in San Antonio, Texas.