ST. LOUIS – Sporting a 3.83 GPA, University of Evansville sophomore Blake Simmons was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team on Thursday morning.
 
Simmons' effort was the highest amongst all of the first teamers.  The Newburgh, Ind. product was also one of just two sophomores on the first team.
 
This season, Simmons started all 30 games for the Aces while averaging 7.4 points per game.  In the regular season, Simmons shot 47.6% from the field and was an extremely accurate free throw shooter, finishing at 81.5%.
 
He scored in double figures on nine occasions this season, including a season-high of 14 points, which came twice.  Simmons did that most recently against Indiana State.  He finished just outside of the top ten in the MVC in minutes played with 30.2.
 
Simmons is the eighth player in UE's tenure in the Valley to garner First Team Scholar-Athlete honors.  Most recently, Colt Ryan did so.  He was the Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2012 and 2013.