KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced a new Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week award winner in week six of the 2025-26 season. A handful of players put up impressive performances to begin the winter break, but it was Washburn’s Jack Bachelor who earned the MIAA Athlete of the Week title after helping the Ichabods to a pair of wins over top-10-ranked opponents.
MIAA MEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jack Bachelor, Washburn
Jack Bachelor averaged 19.5 points with 4.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game as the No. 1-ranked Ichabods downed a pair of top-10-ranked teams in Texas last week to stay undefeated on the season at 13-0. The junior guard shot 55 percent on the week, which included an 8-of-13 performance from deep and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. In Washburn’s 78-66 win over No. 7 Lubbock Christian last Tuesday (Dec. 16), Bachelor scored 20 points and added three steals with four assists, hitting 6-of-10 from the field and 5-of-8 from deep. His first basket of the game – a three-pointer with 15:33 to go in the frame – pushed him over the career 1,000-point mark at Washburn to become the 30th Ichabod in program history to reach the scoring plateau. Bachelor then added 19 points with five assists and three rebounds while hitting 3-of-5 three-point attempts and all six of his free throw attempts in the 74-48 win against No. 4 West Texas A&M. This Washburn’s second consecutive MIAA Athlete of the Week honor and Bachelor’s first of the season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Houston Lazerek, Central Missouri
Houston Lazerek helped the Mules go 2-1 over the course of three games, which included a 10-point upset over No. 4 West Texas A&M in the River City Holiday Classic in Texas. On the week, the freshman guard totaled 66 points, shooting 25-of-50 from the floor (50 percent), including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc (45.5 percent), while adding 15 assists, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, averaging 31.9 minutes per contest. In the Mules’ 88-78 win over the No. 4-ranked Buffs last Tuesday (Dec. 16), Lazerek led with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting and added six rebounds, three assists, and two boards. In UCM’s close 70-65 loss to No. 7-ranked Lubbock Christian on Wednesday (Dec. 17), he had 16 points and five assists. Central Missouri ended the week by setting a new single-game record of 22 made three-pointers in a 110-63 win over Maryville at home. Lazerek totaled 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and finished with a game-high seven assists and four rebounds in the victory.
Dan Mukuna, Fort Hays State
Dan Mukuna was near perfect from the field in week six, going 19-of-21 (90.5 percent), while averaging 23.0 points per game in the Tigers’ two road wins. The junior forward was 10-of-11 in a 25-point performance at MSU Denver on Thursday (Dec. 18) before hitting 9-of-10 in a 21-point performance at Regis on Saturday (Dec. 20). Mukuna now ranks eighth nationally in field-goal percentage at 67 percent for the season. He also averaged 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on the week in Colorado, helping Fort Hays State improve to 8-3 overall for the season.
Matthew Willenborg, Central Oklahoma
Matthew Willenborg veraged 24.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 assists per game to lead the depleted Bronchos against ranked opponents in San Antonio at the River City Holiday Classic. The junior forward scored 19 points in a 10-point loss to No. 7 St. Mary's last Tuesday (Dec. 16) before adding 29 points and 11 rebounds in a three-point loss to No. 16 St. Edward's on Wednesday (Dec. 17).
Xavier Glenn, Northeastern State
Xavier Glenn averaged 26 points in Northeastern State’s two games last week, shooting 20-for-38 from the field (52.6 percent) and 6-for-9 from the arc (66.7 percent). The senior was a perfect 4-for-4 from downtown with five assists and 29 points in the RiverHawks’ 119-117 overtime win over Missouri Southern on Sunday (Dec. 21) after totaling 23 points in the 105-73 victory over Missouri Valley on Wednesday (Dec. 17). Glenn has scored at least 20 points in the last three games for the RiverHawks.
ALSO NOMINATED:
Anthony Swift [Nebraska Kearney], Jaden Taylor [Missouri Southern], Connor Rogers [Pittsburg State], Jarren McAllister [Arkansas-Fort Smith], Justin Mack [Emporia State], Noah King [Missouri Western], and Jabryn Anderson [Rogers State]
WEEK ONE: Jaden Taylor, Missouri Southern
WEEK TWO: Dan Mukuna, Fort Hays State
WEEK THREE:
Matthew Willenborg, Central Oklahoma
WEEK FOUR:
Landon Short, Pittsburg State
WEEK FIVE:
Dillon Claussen, Washburn
WEEK SIX: Jack Bachelor, Washburn