Men's Basketball Hands Out Awards at Annual Team Banquet

The BU men's basketball award winners pose for a photo at the end of the team's annual banquet.

Men's Basketball Hands Out Awards at Annual Team Banquet

April 13, 2026 | Men's Basketball

BOSTON – The Boston University men's basketball team held its annual year-end banquet at the Stockyard Restaurant in Bighton with family and supporters all in attendance. Head coach Joe Jones recognized 12 Terriers with an award.

Wrapping up his 15th season at the helm, Jones first addressed the gathering with his reflections on the campaign that saw BU overcome seven season-ending injuries and reached its first Patriot League title game since 2020. The Terriers also finished the year shooting a program-best 49.5 percent from the field to top the 1983-84 squad's 48.4 FG% while also hitting a record 319 3-pointers.

During the ceremony, former two-time captain and assistant coach Mike Costello (CAS'00), who is currently the vice president of talent acquisition with SmartBear, delivered the keynote speech. Seniors Otto Landrum and Ben Roy both came to the podium as well to reflect on their experiences with the program before they graduate and leave Commonwealth Ave.

Recipient of the Lou Cohen MVP award, junior Michael McNair averaged a team-high 16.9 ppg alongside 5.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.9 FG%, 44.4 3FG%, 73.8 FG% and 36.1 mpg to earn both All-PL First Team and Academic All-PL Team recognition. The Temecula, California, native, finished the year fifth nationally at 44.4 3FG% and 18th with a program-record 110 made 3-pointers, third most ever in the PL. He totaled 20+ points 12 times and compiled three double-doubles while also leading the Terriers with 35 steals. Named BU's first CollegeInsider.com National Player of the Week since 2013, he shot a combined 12-of-16 (.750) in 3-point territory against Lafayette and Army to average 28.5 ppg in January after netting a combined 13-of-21 from behind the arc at Northwestern and Penn State for a 24.0 ppg average against the Big 10.

An All-PL Second Team honoree, sophomore Ben Defty collected the Arturo Brown Most Improved award after tripling both his freshman scoring average of 4.9 ppg to 15.1 ppg, second best mark on the team, and 2.6 rpg to a team-high 6.8 rpg. The Berlin, Germany, native, finished second nationally shooting a program-record 69.4 FG% and finished with 57 blocks, sixth most ever at BU. He posted a team-high six double-doubles and scored at least 20 points in a game six times. He tallied 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the PL quarterfinal win vs. American and earned 21 points and eight rebounds in the title game at Lehigh to receive PL All-Tournament accolades.

Sophomore Azmar Abdullah earned the Tunji Awojobi Defensive Player of the Year award for his efforts on the perimeter in particular. With BU tied for ninth in the PL standings due to a 3-7 record entering the month of February, Abdullah averaged 10.3 ppg and helped hold opponents to just 65.8 ppg and 41.1 FG% along with 33.0 3FG%. A native of Cranston, Rhode Island, he added 6.1 rpg, as the Terriers posted a positive rebound margin of 7.3 rpg to earn a 7-1 record along with the No. 4 seed for the PL tournament.

Chance Gladden became the first Terrier since 2013 to earn both All-Conference (third team) and All-Rookie Team honors in the same season to collect John Holland Rookie of the Year recognition. The Raleigh, North Carolina, native, finished third on the team averaging 14.4 ppg while adding a team-high 4.5 apg alongside 3.2 rpg, 47.6 FG%, 34.7 3FG%, 86.7 FT% and 33.3 mpg. He ended the season ranked 92nd nationally and 12th among freshmen at 150 assists while also placing 61st overall and second among freshmen shooting 86.7 percent at the free throw line. He earned BU's first assist-points double-double since 2016-17 and went viral for his buzzer-beating 3-pointer at Navy in the stunning PL semifinal win.

For the first time, the Reggie Stewart award was shared with seven Terriers best exemplifying the core values of the program. Landrum, Roy, junior Kyrone Alexander, junior Matai Baptiste, graduate student Malcolm Chimezie, graduate student Ethan Okwuosa and freshman Andrew Bhesania did not allow their injury setbacks to impact the team beyond decreasing the size of the available roster for the coaching staff. They brought a distinct energy to games while on the bench to help support their teammates and were also helpful at practices.

Both Baptiste and sophomore Peter Carr earned the Richard Taylor Academic Award for showing the ultimate commitment to their studies. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Baptiste is currently majoring in business administration and management, while Carr out of West Chester, Pennsylvania, is focused on computer engineering.