Bevo Francis Award Info | Dark Horse Dunker Competition
SEWARD, Neb. – Though the 2024-25 season has concluded for Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball, you haven’t heard the last of Tristan Smith. This past weekend (March 14-15), Smith made the cut for the 25-player Bevo Francis Award Watch List and officially won his quarterfinal matchup in the State Farm Darkhorse Dunker competition organized by College Slam. The GPAC Player of the Year, Smith is one of only six NAIA players to be chosen to the latest Bevo Francis Award Watch List (as selected by Small College Basketball). In the Darkhorse Dunker competition, Smith has won fan votes in the first round and quarterfinal rounds.
The Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball (outside of the NCAA Division I level). Considerations are season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements. The Bevo Francis Award finalists will be announced on April 5 and the winner will be unveiled on April 7.
In the latest round of voting in the Darkhorse Dunker competition, Smith prevailed over College of Idaho’s Straton Rogers. Smith now advances to the semifinals in voting that will run March 17-21 via College Slam’s X/Twitter and Instagram accounts. The contestants are competing for a chance to participate in the 2025 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships that will take place in San Antonio, Texas, on April 3.
One of two players in the history of the GPAC to sweep the league’s player of the year and defensive player of the year awards in the same season, Smith put together one of the greatest campaigns ever by a Bulldog. This 2024-25 season, Smith averaged 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game and was the conference leader in field goal percentage (.688). In 112 career collegiate games, Smith totaled 1,577 points, 755 rebounds, 247 assists, 135 blocks and 109 steals. Smith helped lead the program to national tournament appearances all four years and to a combined three GPAC championships.