KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced a new Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week award winner in week four of the 2025-26 season. Pittsburg State’s Landon Short was named the newest MIAA Athlete of the Week for the Gorillas’ first weekly honor of the season.  

MIAA MEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Landon Short, Pittsburg State
Landon Short averaged 23.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a pair of wins to open MIAA play last week. The freshman guard posted career best scoring totals in back-to-back outings, going for 22 points in the Gorillas’ 77-63 win over Central Oklahoma last Thursday (Dec. 4) before accumulating 25 points in Pitt State's 86-64 victory over Rogers State on Saturday (Dec. 6). The Austin, Texas native made 16-of-31 shots for the week (51.6 percent), including an 11-of-22 performance from the three-point range. Short, who entered the week averaging 7.5 points per game, also totaled seven rebounds, six assists and five steals on the week.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Matthew Willenborg, Central Oklahoma          
Matthew Willenborg led Central Oklahoma to a split on the road to open MIAA action last week, which included another career-high performance to get the Bronchos a win over Missouri Southern on Saturday (Dec. 6). The junior forward scored 33 points to go with seven rebounds and four blocked shots as the Bronchos defeated the Lions 87-79 in Joplin. He also had a 15-point, 15-rebound game that included five blocked shots in the loss to Pitt State on Thursday night (Dec. 4). Willenborg's 33 points on Saturday, 15 rebounds on Thursday, and five blocks on Thursday were each league highs for the weekend. 
 
Noah King, Missouri Western
Noah King delivered an impressive week for Griffon Men’s Basketball, averaging 24.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game across two standout performances. In the 99-77 win over Northwest Missouri, King poured in 25 points on 9-for-19 shooting (47.4 percent), including three makes from beyond the arc. He added seven rebounds and played over 33 minutes while anchoring the Griffon offense against the Bearcats. Four days later at Emporia State, King followed with a 24-point effort, highlighted by going 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) at the free-throw line and knocking down four three-pointers. He also grabbed five rebounds and logged more than 31 minutes on the 84-74 road win over the Hornets.
 
Houston Lazerek, Central Missouri
Houston Lazerek led the Mules to a 2-0 start in MIAA play with victories over (RV) Fort Hays State and Nebraska Kearney. The freshman guard totaled 33 points (averaging 16.5 per game), while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out nine assists. In the 64-50 win over the Tigers, Houston had 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists before following it up with 22 points, six assists, three boards, and two steals in the 99-69 win over the Lopers. 
 
Royce Williams, Northwest Missouri
Royce Williams poured in his first collegiate 30-point game and averaged 25.5 points per game while shooting 61.5 percent from the floor as the Bearcats opened MIAA action last week. The senior guard also grabbed a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game, tallied seven steals and dished out five assists. Williams went 9-of-13 from the floor and made eight free throws as he scored 30 points in Northwest's 77-70 victory at home over Emporia State. He also tied his career-high with nine rebounds against the Hornets. Williams then tallied 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting with six rebounds in a road loss to Missouri Western to begin MIAA play. With 11 last week, Williams has now made 27 consecutive free throws.

ALSO NOMINATED:
Jaden Taylor [Missouri Southern], Treyvon Taylor [Emporia State], Kameron Johnson [Arkansas-Fort Smith], Bryson Smith [Washburn], Deacon Courtney [Newman], Lucas Hammeke [Fort Hays State]
   
2025-26 MIAA MEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
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