BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University graduate center Emerson Halbleib (Carmel, Ind.) was selected as the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year and freshman guard Dante Kikuba (Framingham, Mass.) garnered Rookie of the Year honors as the 2022-2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's basketball award winners were announced on Wednesday.

Halbleib was also named to the All-MASCAC First Team as he was the lone Bear to earn all-conference honors.

In 26 games this season, Halbleib averaged 14.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.6 blocks. He also shot 68.2% (152-223) from the floor, 37.5% (9-24) from behind the arc and 72.3% (68-94) at the free throw line. He set the Bears' single-season records for blocked shots and field goal percentage.

Halbleib currently leads the MASCAC in field goal percentage and blocked shots. He is also second among the conference leaders in double-doubles (12), third in rebounding, fourth in free throw percentage, and sixth in steals, scoring and offensive rebounds (3.3 rpg).

On the national stage, Halbleib is third in all of Division III in field goal percentage, tied for 13th in total blocks (68), tied for 14th in blocks per game, 29th in total rebounds (267), tied for 32nd in double-doubles and 35th in rebounds per game.

In 26 games this season including 25 starts, Kikuba averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting 45.1% (137-304) from the floor, 37.1% (36-97) from three-point range and 72.7% (40-55) at the free throw line.

Kikuba, the Bears' first MASCAC Rookie of the Year since Admar Jaramillo in 2019, presently leads the MASCAC in assists. He also ranks second in steals, fifth in three-point shooting and ninth in scoring.

Nationally, Kikuba is 16th in all of Division III in assists per game and 31st in steals per game (2.38).

The BSU men's basketball team wrapped up the 2022-2023 campaign with an overall record of 18-8, a 14-win improvement from the previous season. The Bears went 8-4 in MASCAC regular season play to finish in a tie for second place in the conference standings. 

2022-2023 MASCAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team (PDF)