SEWARD, Neb. – The accolades keep coming in for star Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball senior Tristan Smith. On Tuesday (Feb. 18), the league office honored Smith as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week. Smith has been recognized as a GPAC Player of the Week five times (three times offensively and twice defensively) during the 2024-25 campaign. As a team, the 12th-ranked Bulldogs have pulled in eight GPAC Player of the Week awards this season.
The Elizabeth, Colo., native Smith led Concordia to GPAC wins last week over Hastings, 94-71, and Dakota Wesleyan, 91-76. From a defensive perspective, the Bulldogs limited the Broncos to 41.3 percent shooting and the Tigers to 45.3 percent shooting. Over those two victories, Smith tallied 47 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists, four blocked shots and three steals.
Among GPAC players, Smith ranks first in field goal percentage (.702), second in blocks (1.6), fourth in rebounds (7.8), sixth in scoring (20.3), sixth in assists (4.0) and eighth in steals (1.7). In 105 career games as a Bulldog, Smith has compiled 1,429 points, 676 rebounds, 212 assists, 122 blocks and 106 steals. On the program’s all-time lists, Smith ranks fifth in blocks, 11th in rebounds, 12th in scoring and 21st in assists. He was named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List of 50 players on Feb. 15.
Smith and the Bulldogs (21-5, 14-4 GPAC) will host Doane at 7:45 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Prior to tipoff, Smith and his fellow senior classmates will be honored as part of senior day festivities.
Smith 2024-25 GPAC honors:
Offensive Player of the Week: Nov. 20, Dec. 17 and Jan. 14
Defensive Player of the Week: Jan. 28 and Feb. 18