Troy University Athletics
Three Trojans Earn Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Postseason Honors
3/4/2024 2:01:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Troy was well-represented in the Sun Belt Men's Basketball Postseason Awards, as Christyon Eugene was named All-Sun Belt First Team, Myles Rigsby was named Freshman of the Year and Tayton Conerway was named Sixth Man of the Year, the conference announced on Monday afternoon.
Eugene, Rigsby and Conerway were the top three scorers on a Troy team that had 20 victories and won double-figure conference games for the third consecutive season. The Trojans – projected to finish eighth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll – finished the regular season with the third best record in the conference, and beat every team projecteds above them except James Madison, who they did not play.
After being picked to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, Eugene lived up to the hype as he led the Trojans in scoring with 15.2 points per game, also good for sixth in the conference. He scored in double-figures in 26 of 31 games and led the team in assists with 3.2.
Eugene was a staple of a Troy offense that averaged 79.9 points and finished the regular season as the second-best offense in the conference and 45th nationally. It's the first time a Trojan has been named to the All-Sun Belt First Team since Efe Odigie in 2022.
"Christyon has been so crucial to our team's success ever since he joined the program three years ago," Head coach Scott Cross said. "His ability to score at all three levels while also making everyone around him better has been a joy to watch. He is so deserving of this recognition, and we wouldn't be here without him and his leadership each and every day."
Rigsby has made an immediate impact for Troy since he stepped foot on the campus this summer and has been the best freshman in the Sun Belt all season long.
He finished the regular season tied for second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points, while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from three and 82.8 percent from the line. Rigsby is an elite defender who uses his impressive athleticism to create plays on both ends of the court. He is the first Trojan to win Freshman of the Year since Duke Deen in 2022.
"Myles is a perfect representation for everything Troy Basketball is," Cross said. "He is tough, physical and makes plays everywhere on the court. In addition to his ability to shoot the ball well from anywhere on the floor, he is an elite rim finisher and one of the most difficult players in the league to match up against."
Conerway is the first Trojan to win Sixth Man of the Year honors. A JUCO transfer, Conerway has been a spark plug for Troy all season. Like Rigsby, Conerway is an elite scorer at all three level while also playing a high-level of defense.
The junior guard is tied for second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points, and led the Sun Belt in steals this season with 64. That mark is also good for 22nd nationally. He scored 10 or more points in 21 games this season.
"Tayton is a sixth starter for us and constantly changes the game when on the court," Cross said. "He is exactly what it means to be a street dog and we're so thankful that he is part of our team. He makes a difference on the offensive and defensive ends of the court every single night and has been a key reason for our success this year."
These three Trojans led Troy to the No. 3 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament that is set to get underway tomorrow in Pensacola, Fla. The Trojans will first hit the court on Saturday at 5 p.m., and will play Southern Miss, Texas State or Old Dominion. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Troy Sports Radio Network.
2023-24 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Terrence Edwards Jr., James Madison
Defensive Player of the Year
Justin Abson, App State
Newcomer of the Year
T.J. Bickerstaff, James Madison
Freshman of the Year
Myles Rigsby, Troy
Sixth Man of the Year
Tayton Conerway, Troy
Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year
Dustin Kerns, App State
All-Sun Belt First Team
Terrence Edwards Jr., James Madison
Christyon Eugene, Troy
Caleb Fields, Arkansas State
Donovan Gregory, App State
Tre'Von Spillers, App State
All-Sun Belt Second Team
T.J. Bickerstaff, James Madison
Austin Crowley, Southern Miss
Chaunce Jenkins, Old Dominion
Kobe Julien, Louisiana
Tyren Moore, Georgia Southern
All-Sun Belt Third Team
John Ojiako, Coastal Carolina
Joe Charles, Louisiana
Noah Freidel, James Madison
Terence Harcum, App State
Hosana Kitenge, Louisiana
Nika Metskhvarishvili, ULM
Taryn Todd, Arkansas State
