Posted: Feb 16, 2026
ETHAN PEARCE OF AUSTIN COLLEGE, a senior from Meridian, Idaho, has been named the SCAC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for games played from Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15. SCAC Men's Basketball Release (Week 14)
Pearce had another big weekend on the defensive end, helping the 'Roos go 2-0 in the team's final two home games of the year. Pearce averaged 3.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game to go with a double-double average of 10.5 points and 10.5 rebounds against McMurry and Schreiner. Five of his blocks came in a crucial win over Schreiner to keep Austin College's SCAC tournament hopes alive. This marks his second-straight weekly award.
Other outstanding performances in the SCAC:
First-year Bryce Evans of Centenary averaged 10.0 PPG and 6.0 rebounds/game for the Gents in a pair of home games against Hendrix and Ozarks and added two blocked shots, an assist, a steal, and 12 total rebounds - eight on the defensive end. In Friday's win over Hendrix he scored a career-high 14 points and had seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Senior Asher Nofziger of Colorado College led the team with 23 total rebounds and three steals. He grabbed 10 boards and two steals on Friday against Concordia (Tex.), then followed it up with 13 rebounds and another steal in a win on Sunday against TLU. He also added 10 points, 1.7 assists and 9.5 defensive rebounds per game. Senior Connor Miller of LeTourneau averaged 2.5 steals and 3.0 rebounds (all defensive) to go along with 15.0 points and 3.0 assists per game in a 2-0 week for LeTourneau. He had two steals with three rebounds and 12 points in a 100-51 win over Ozarks. Miller then posted 18 points with three steals, three rebounds, and four assists in a 102-62 Senior Day win over Hendrix. Senior Jalen Cherry of McMurry averaged 13.0 rebounds per game across a 1-1 weekend for the War Hawks adding a pair of steals and a block as well. Cherry posted 34 points against Dallas in a convincing win as well and added four assists. Senior Angel Johnson of St. Thomas (Tex.) played a key role in leading St. Thomas to a 2-0 weekend averageing 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Johnson finished with nine assists to just two turnovers for an impressive 4.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. He added three steals across the two wins.
| 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 | Michael Kennedy, University of Dallas |
| Week 12 | Teigan Edwards, LeTourneau University |
| Week 13 | Ethan Pearce, Austin College |
| Week 14 | Ethan Pearce, Austin College |
| Week 15 | |
