Posted: Jan 19, 2026
JALEN CHERRY OF MCMURRY UNIVERSITY, a senior guard from Abilene, Texas, has been named the SCAC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for games played from Friday, January 16 through Sunday, January 18. SCAC Men's Basketball Release (Week 10)
Cherry posted 22 rebounds in a win at Texas Lutheran, tying his season-best mark as he averaged 16.5 rebounds per game over a 1-1 week. After totaling 11 rebounds against Concordia (Tex.), the SCAC's leading rebounder totaled 16 on the defensive glass at TLU while adding three steals. The senior posted 25 points against the Bulldogs and had a double-double in each game over the weekend.
Other outstanding performances in the SCAC:
Senior Jordan Hudgins of Austin College was a force on the glass in a pair of SCAC games, averaging 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, and grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game, including 6.0 on the defensive glass. Hudgins also chipped in 10.5 points and 5.0 assists-per-game while shooting 52.9% from the field. First-year Kyle Kihlberg of Colorado College defended the paint well in a 1-1 weekend for the Tigers. The freshman had a career-high three blocks in a win over Hendrix on Friday, adding five rebounds and one assist in his 17 minutes. He then blocked another shot and grabbed two more rebounds on Sunday against Ozarks (Ark.). First-year Darone Leakes of Concordia (Tex.) caused havoc in a pair of games off the bench, averaging 4.5 steals in a 2-0 weekend for the Tornados. In a 102-77 win over McMurry, Leakes earned four steals, five rebounds and a block to go along with 11 points in 19 minutes. He then tallied a season-high five steals in 17 minutes in a 98-95 thriller against Schreiner. First-year Charles Hatchett of Hendrix averaged 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks over the Warriors' two weekend contests. Against Colorado College on Friday, the freshman grabbed three boards and recorded three blocks. On Sunday, he totaled eight rebounds and a pair of blocks against St. Thomas (Tex.). Junior Logan Brinkoeter of LeTourneau averaged 3.5 steals, 2.0 blocks, and 7.5 rebounds to go with 13.5 points per game in a 2-0 week for the YellowJackets. He was an essential part of the defense that allowed just 54.0 points per game. Brinkoeter had 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in a 75-55 win at Dallas. He then had 15 points, 10 rebounds, a career-high five steals, and two blocks in a 72-53 win at Austin marking his eighth double-double of the year. Senior Angel Johnson of St. Thomas (Tex.) anchored the defensive effort over two games, totaling seven steals while averaging 2.0 assists per game, consistently disrupting passing lanes and applying pressure on opposing guards. Johnson also added five rebounds and four assists, helping limit second-chance opportunities and spark transition play. Senior Mason Wallace of Texas Lutheran posted eight rebounds over a 1-1 week in league play for the Bulldogs with a pair of blocks against McMurry. Wallace also averaged 19.0 points per game in the two contests.
| SCAC Men's Basketball Defensive Players of the Week | |
| Week 1 | Terrion Benson, Colorado College |
| Week 2 | Teigan Edwards, LeTourneau University |
| Week 3 | Aaron San Miguel, Concordia University (Tex.) |
| Week 4 | DJ Miller, University of the Ozarks (Ark.) |
| Week 5 | Nathan Kongolo, University of St. Thomas (Tex.) |
| Week 6 | Corey Thompson, University of St. Thomas (Tex.) |
| Week 7 | Logan Brinkoeter, LeTourneau University |
| Week 8 | Logan Brinkoeter, LeTourneau University |
| Week 9 | Mario Johnson, Schreiner University |
| Week 10 | Jalen Cherry, McMurry University |
| Week 11 | |
