Izayah Talmadge Named First Team All-SLIAC & All-Defensive Team; Kelsey All-Sportsmanship Team

BELLEVILLE, IL -- Senior Izayah Talmadge earned St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors as he was named First Team All-SLIAC and All-Defensive Team. Senior Zach Kelsey also earned conference recognition with his selection to the All-Sportsmanship Team. 

Talmadge finished the season averaging 19.2 points per game in SLIAC play, placing him fourth in the league, while he added 7.6 rebounds a night to put him fifth in the SLIAC. He also finished 11th in field goal percentage, shooting 48% from the field, and was eighth from the free throw line at 74%. His 1.7 threes made placed him 10th. Defensively, he finished fourth with 1.4 blocks and eighth with 1.7 steals per game. 

During SLIAC action, he reached double-figures in 16 out of the 18 games, including a career-high 31 at Greenville, and reached 20 points eight times. On four times he grabbed double digit rebounds to give him four double-doubles during the conference season. He also had nine rebounds on three occasions. At Spalding he notched a career-high five steals and dished out a career-high seven assists at Greenville. He also defended the other team's best offensive player routinely throughout the season. 

Kelsey started all 18 conference games for the Beavers and averaged 6.9 points while shoooting 42.7% from the field and 34% from behind the arc. The senior also added 4.2 rebounds per outing. 

The senior duo helped Blackburn reach their third SLIAC Tournament for the third time in four seasons.