By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Western Illinois senior center Drew Cisse was one of the nation’s top frontcourt players this season, and it showed in the Ohio Valley Conference’s postseason honors on Tuesday.

Cisse was named the OVC’s defensive player of the year and was a first-team all-conference selection.

Cisse finished the regular season with 343 rebounds, which ranks third in NCAA Division I play. He had 62 blocked shots, which ranks 22nd nationally.

Cisse ranks third nationally in offensive rebounds (4.35 per game), sixth in total rebounds per game (11.1) and 32nd in blocks per game (2.0). Cisse had 17 double-digit rebounding games, including a season-high 20 against South Dakota, a mark that ranks 13th nationally. He added a season-high six blocks against Southeast Missouri State and had 18 games with at least two blocks during the season.

Cisse was a big part of a Leatherneck defense that ranked second in the OVC in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense.

Western Illinois guard Ryan Myers was a second-team selection.

Riley Minix of Morehead State was the conference’s player of the year. Little Rock’s Jaylen Crocker-Johnson was named the freshman of the year, and Little Rock’s Darrell Walker was coach of the year.

Photo: Western Illinois center Drew Cisse was honored as the OVC’s defensive player of the year and was a first-team all-conference selection. (Photo from WIU Athletic Communications)