The Arizona Western men's basketball team received some high honors at the conclusion of the ACCAC regular season. Sophomore Marsai Mason is named the conference "Player of the Year" and "Defensive Player of the Year." This marks the fourth time in the past five years that the top honor has gone to a Matador player under head coach Kyle Isaacs. It also marks the second time in five years that a Matadors player won both "Player of the Year" and "Defensive Player of the Year."

"I'm blessed," Marsai Mason said. "Just putting in the work all season. A shoutout to my teammates and my coaches. We all came in early together, had one goal in mind, to be champions. Next is to be Region I champions."

Yaxel Lendeborg won ACCAC "Player of the Year" honors for the 2021-22 year, Lendeborg also won "Defensive Player of the Year" honors after the 2022-23 season. AJ Marmolejos claimed ACCAC "Player of the Year" honors after the 2023-24 season and just last season, Edwin Suarez claimed the honor. 

"I'm glad to be on the list of past AWC greats," Mason said. "They've all meant a lot to this program. I'm just trying to make my mark here as well, I wouldn't be here without my guys.

This season, Mason led the Matadors with 16.6 PPG and 9.9 RPG through 28 games played. He also led the Matadors with 15 double-doubles and set career high with points in a game (38) and rebounds in a game (19) at Central Arizona College on January 28th. Mason, nicknamed "The Dominator" was also named to the All-Region I First Team along with teammate Matt Anglo. 

Sophomore guard Matt Anglo played in all 30 games this season and averaged 14.2 PPG and shot 47.2% from the floor and 80 % from the free throw line. 

"Feels good, definitely something that was on my list at the beginning of the year," Matt Anglo said. "It feels good to be recognized as a Region I First team member, we as a team still have some bigger goals ahead of us. A big thank you to my teammates and coaches as well."

Head coach Kyle Isaacs was named ACCAC "Coach of the Year" for the second time. Isaacs first claimed the honor during his first year with Arizona Western in the 2021-22 season. That year, Arizona Western finished 26-5 and tied for the conference championship. This season, Isaacs and his staff, which includes Carter Roe and Dakota LeBlanc guided the Matadors to the program's first outright ACCAC title in 17 years. 

"I call the award, coaching staff of the year," Coach Kyle Isaacs said. "I think it's a reflection of our assistant coaches who really pull a lot of the weight. I like to tell our team that they are honored with assistant coaches of the year. Really proud of our team and program. When one of us gets honored, we all get honored. Basketball is not an individual sport like tennis or golf, it takes everybody, it takes a small village." 

Arizona Western will open the playoffs this Thursday, March 5th, when they host the College of Southern Nevada. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST in The House. Admission is $10 at the door for the general public and $7 for seniors, military and non-Arizona Western students over the age of 12 years old.