INDIANA, Pa. — IUP redshirt senior Dallis Dillard was named to the 2025-26 Bevo Francis Award Watch List as one of the top 100 players in NCAA Division II basketball, as announced by Small College Basketball on Thursday.
The Bevo Francis Award is presented annually to the player with the finest season in small college basketball, based on statistics, team success, overall character and individual accolades.
Entering Wednesday's game against Slippery Rock, Dillard is the only player in the nation averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per game. Prior to the season, Dillard had not recorded a game with at least five assists. This year, he has done so seven times, including a career-high nine assists against Millersville.
Dillard leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in steals per game and ranks among the top two players in the league in its primary offensive statistical categories. His resurgence follows a stretch in which he appeared in just 10 games during the 2023-24 season and missed all of last season due to injury.
Dillard scored a career-high 31 points in IUP's win over Pitt-Johnstown, adding seven assists, six rebounds and five steals to lead the Crimson Hawks.
The Bevo Francis Award watch list will be narrowed to 50 players in February, followed by a top 25 list in March and finalists announced in April. The award winner will be announced in early April.
