KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced a new Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week award winner in week nine of the 2025-26 season. Central Oklahoma’s Matthew Willenborg became the first player this season to earn back-to-back MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week honors after receiving the award in weeks eight and nine.
MIAA MEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Matthew Willenborg, Central Oklahoma
Matthew Willenborg continued to lead Central Oklahoma this week as the Bronchos split a pair of MIAA home games. Willenborg, the reigning MIAA Athlete of the Week, averaged 24.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game this week as he continues to lead the MIAA in all three categories. The junior forward scored 17 points to go with seven rebounds and six blocked shots in a midweek loss to Missouri Southern (Jan. 14). In Saturday’s MIAA Game of the Week, Willenborg added 31 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots as the Bronchos beat Pitt State 67-57. On the week, the junior forward shot 48.5 percent (16-of-33) overall and landed 13-for-15 (86.7 percent) at the free-throw line. This is Willenborg’s third MIAA Athlete of the Week honor this season – the most of any MIAA player this season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Dan Mukuna, Fort Hays State
Dan Mukuna averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game to help Fort Hays State to another pair of MIAA road wins at Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. The junior forward scored a team-high 23 points in the 74-61 win at MWSU, shooting 9-of-13 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. He then produced his third double-double of the season in the 66-50 win over the Bearcats, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Mukuna was 8-of-13 from the field against the Bearcats while finishing the week with an overall shooting percentage of 65.4 percent from the field. The two victories helped the Tigers move into a tie for second place in the MIAA standings.
Jabryn Anderson, Rogers State
Jabryn Anderson helped the Hillcats to a 2-0 week in MIAA play with rematch wins over Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. The senior guard averaged a double-double with 11.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on the week. He notched his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the 68-55 win against the Lions. He also added 10 assists and two blocks on the week while shooting 44 percent (7-of-16) overall, 66.7 percent from the three-point range (2-of-3) and 75 percent (6-of-8) from the foul line.
Lazerek Houston, Central Missouri
Lazerek Houston averaged 28.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game to lead the Mules in MIAA action on the week. The freshman guard netted 24 points in the 96-57 win at Newman last Wednesday (Jan. 14) before adding a game-high 32 points with a team-high six assists in the Mules’ one-point overtime loss at Emporia State on Saturday (Jan. 17).
ALSO NOMINATED:
Dallas Bear [Emporia State], Ja’Bryant Hill [Nebraska Kearney], Dillon Claussen [Washburn], Gavyn Elkamil [Missouri Southern], Noah King [Missouri Western], AJ Reed Jr. [Northeastern 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
WEEK SEVEN: Brandon Scott, Arkansas-Fort Smith
WEEK EIGHT: Matthew Willenborg, Central Oklahoma
WEEK NINE: Matthew Willenborg, Central Oklahoma