Conference USA: Season 2025-26

2024-25
Conference USA 2025-26
Tournament Winner: Kennesaw State University
Regular Season Champion: Liberty University
Tournament MVP: RJ Johnson
League MVP: Zach Cleveland
Co-Player of the Year: Simeon Cottle (21.4)
Defensive POY: Kashie Natt
Coach of the Year: Ritchie McKay
All NCAA1 Players 2025-26
Conference History
CUSA Women Section
Official Web Site  
Quarterfinals Semis Final 2026 Semis Quarterfinals
KSU96
WKU87
NM State61
SHSU69
KSU79
SHSU73
KSU71
La Tech60
Missouri St.66
La Tech69
Missouri St.77
Liberty69
MTSU69
La Tech80
Check Full Games/Schedule
Conference USA Final: Kennesaw State University - Louisiana Tech University 71-60

KSU (Antoine Pettway): Amir Taylor 17, RJ Johnson 13, Trey Simpson 6, Jaden Harris 18, Braedan Lue 7, Kaden Rickard 4, Frankquon Sherman 6, Perry Smith 0, Charles Stone 0, Eric Holland 0, Ramone Seals 0, Nigel Thomas 0, Dozie Onyirimba 0, Darius Washington 0
La Tech (Talvin Hester): AJ Bates 6, Avery Thomas 10, D.J. Dudley 5, Kaden Cooper 9, Will Allen 3, Scooter Williams 10, Jaylen Fenner 3, Sir Issac Herron 8, Melian Martinez 6, Kylan Howze 0, Keegan Rowell 0

Standings 2025-26
#
Team
W-L
CUSA
1
Liberty University
17-3 (25-6)
2
Sam Houston State University
13-7 (21-10)
3
Middle Tennessee State University
11-9 (17-14)
4
Western Kentucky University
11-9 (18-13)
5
Louisiana Tech University
11-9 (18-13)
6
Jacksonville State University
10-10 (15-16)
7
Kennesaw State University
10-10 (18-13)
8
Missouri State University
8-12 (14-17)
9
Florida International University
8-12 (15-16)
10
New Mexico State University
8-12 (15-15)
11
The University of Texas at El Paso
7-13 (11-20)
12
University of Delaware
6-14 (10-21)
 
- qualified to the play-offs
Stats Leaders 2025-26
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
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KSU
6'2'' G
Avg: 21.4 ppg

1
Simeon Cottle
21.4
2
M. El Moutaouakkil
18.9
3
Teagan Moore
18.9
4
Jemel Jones
17.5
5
Keith Palek
17.4
6
Christian Bliss
16.8
7
Justyn Fernandez
16.6
8
Brett Decker
16.3
9
Michael Osei-Bonsu
16.2
10
Po'Boigh King
15.9
Conference USA Final
Kennesaw State University won Conference USA Championship 2025-26
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Jaden Harris
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Frankquon Sherman
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RJ Johnson
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Trey Simpson
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Braedan Lue
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# Name Height Pos Age Nat Cls Former Team
* zidRj HiQQas 8'7'' (025) G USA XIQZQIss (XIQZQIss, GS)
* yQijVEuIj AhRQBij 8'4'' (910) y USAzQ vajZIlj CIujUF (vajZIljUIj, GS)
* ez zIhjsIj 8'7'' (025) G USAAI GQassIB (HujUsLallR, Sv)
* wQRF AaBpsIj 8'6'' (915) y USAyQ
* mQiRdij vuR 8'2'' (918) y USAAI SlRxijdRQ (gIuDlisLallR, GS)
giQaus WishajDUIj 8'3'' (028) G USAyQ
KidRj eaZViQd 8'8'' (026) G USAyQ
SBaQ wiFlIQ 8'2'' (918) y USAyQ GQiFsIj (vIDijLallR, GS)
eiBIjR ARils 8'8'' (026) y USAAI wiBpi miF ChQasUaij (wiBpi, yv)
01 ziBal ballRQ 8'8'' (026) y USAAI CIBMajR SZidRBF (vajZIljUIj, XC)
ORQQF ABaUh 8'6'' (915) C USAAQ vRDiZF qiQlF CIllRDR (GQRRjLallR, AC)
3 AaBRIj CIUUlR 8'9'' (066) G USAAQ wQa-CaUaRs (qisU OIajU, GS)
ChiQlRs AUIjR 8'9'' (066) G USAAQ CIluBMus (CIluBMus, GS)
qQaZ HIllijd 3'6'' (045) OG USAzQ eIBR (eIBR, GS)
0 giLaj CIsMF zQ. 8'3'' (028) G USAzQ WIQd If GId SZid. (eilRaDh, XC)
4 ChisR ClRBBIjs 8'1'' (065) G USAAI qUITih (WIIdsUIZV, GS)
6 XaDRl whIBis 8'6'' (915) y USAyQ
97 mQRjdij wIusaDjiuU 8'3'' (028) G USAyQ
gIJaR PjFaQaBMi 8'5'' (021) y USAAI bZqiZhRQj (OITdRQ ApQajDs, GS)
Head Coach: SjUIajR ORUUTiF
Coach Assistant: WallaR WiUsIj
Coach Assistant: Ohalap ORiQsIj
Coach Assistant: gIjILij KiURs
 Arrived: Jaden Harris (New Mexico State University)
Tournament MVP
RJ Johnson
Regular Season MVP
Zach Cleveland
Defensive POY
Kashie Natt
Coach of the Year
Ritchie McKay
Kennesaw State Claims First CUSA Title, Johnson Crowned MVP-Mar 15, 2026
No. 6 Kennesaw State hoisted the CUSA Basketball Championship trophy for the first time in program history after defeating No. 4 LA Tech 71-60 in Saturday’s title showdown.
Redshirt sophomore guard RJ Johnson (6'4''-G), the CUSA Men’s Basketball Championship Most Valuable Player, scored 13 points with six rebounds, four assists and two steals in the 11-point win on Saturday night. The Huntsville, Ala., native, averaged 17.0 points and 5.3 assists in the Owls’ three contests in three days. Jaden Harris (6'4''-G) scored a game-high 18 points on 5-9 shooting while All-Tournament Team member Amir Taylor poured in 17 points.
The Owls became the first No. 6 seed in a CUSA Tournament to win the title. They will be making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament after going in 2023.

Final:
LA Tech - Kennesaw State 60-71

Semis:
Sam Houston - Kennesaw State 73-79
LA Tech - Missouri State 69-66

Courtesy of conferenceusa.com
All-C-USA Awards 2026-Mar 15, 2026
Zach Cleveland, forward from the Liberty University, was named the Player of the Year at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He was also selected to the First Team. Cleveland averaged almost 12 points and over 7 rebounds per game in the league. He has totalled 4 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 7 games on the year. Cleveland's 23 points against the SHSU were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
RJ Johnson, guard from the Kennesaw State University, was voted the All-Tournament MVP of NCAA Division II. He received multiple other awards, was chosen to the First Team and Tournament Team. Johnson registered over 14 points and almost 4 assists per game that season in the league. He has totalled 8 games of 20 or more points on the year and had 30 or more points in 2 games. Johnson's 32 points against the SHSU were the most he scored in the 25 26 season. He was selected to the A-Sun All-Freshman Team in 2024.
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, Moroccan guard from the Jacksonville State University, was selected as the Newcomer of the Year at the NCAA Division II. He was also named to the First Team. El Moutaouakkil recorded almost 19 points and over 7 rebounds per game over the season in the league. He has totalled 13 games of 20 or more points on the year and logged 30 or more points in 2 games. El Moutaouakkil registered double-doubles in 7 games during the event. His 38 points against the SHSU were the most he scored in the 25 26 season. El Moutaouakkil's team won the FCSAA Southern Conference Regular Season in 2023.
Brett Decker, guard from the Liberty University, earned a spot in the First Team of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He averaged over 16 points per game in the league. Decker has totalled 9 games of 20 or more points on the year. His 30 points against the La Tech were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Teagan Moore, guard from the Western Kentucky University, was voted to the First Team at the NCAA Division I. He notched almost 19 points and 6 rebounds per game that season in the league. Moore has totalled 12 games of 20 or more points on the year. His 28 points against the MTSU were the most he scored in the 25 26 season. Among many awards Moore's team won the C-USA Tournament in 2024. He was selected to the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2024.
All-Tournament MVP: USA RJ Johnson (6'4''-G) of KSU
Player of the Year: USA Zach Cleveland (6'7''-F) of Liberty
Defensive Player of the Year: USA Kashie Natt (6'3''-G) of SHSU
Freshman of the Year: USA Christian Bliss (6'4''-G) of Delaware
Newcomer of the Year: Morocco Mostapha El Moutaouakkil (6'6''-G) of Jax State
Sixth Player of the Year: USA Jacob Walker (6'1''-G) of SHSU
Co-Coach of the Year: Ritchie McKay of Liberty
Co-Coach of the Year: Chris Mudge of SHSU

All-C-USA First Team 2026
El Moutaouakkil
Johnson
Cleveland
Decker
Moore
First Team
Morocco Mostapha El Moutaouakkil (6'6''-G) of Jax State
USA RJ Johnson (6'4''-G) of KSU
USA Zach Cleveland (6'7''-F) of Liberty
USA Brett Decker (6'3''-G) of Liberty
USA Teagan Moore (6'5''-G) of WKU

All-C-USA Second Team 2026
Bliss
Stephenson
Palek
Jones
King
Second Team
USA Christian Bliss (6'4''-G) of Delaware
USA Corey Stephenson (6'6''-G/F) of FIU
USA Keith Palek (6'9''-F) of Missouri St.
USA Jemel Jones (6'4''-G) of NM State
USA Po'Boigh King (6'5''-G) of SHSU

All-C-USA Third Team 2026
Metheny
Dudley
Alston
Osei-Bonsu
Natt
Third Team
USA Kaden Metheny (5'11''-G) of Liberty
USA D.J. Dudley (6'4''-G) of La Tech
USA Torey Alston (6'9''-F-2004) of MTSU
USA Michael Osei-Bonsu (6'4''-F) of Missouri St.
USA Kashie Natt (6'3''-G) of SHSU

All-C-USA Honorable Mention 2026
Fernandez
Bryant
Porter
Bates
Lands
Walker
Jones
Watson
West Jr.
Newell
Honorable Mention
USA Justyn Fernandez (6'5''-G-2003) of Delaware
USA AC Bryant (6'3''-G) of Jax State
USA Colin Porter (5'10''-G) of Liberty
USA AJ Bates (6'3''-G) of La Tech
USA Kamari Lands (6'8''-G) of MTSU
USA Jacob Walker (6'1''-G) of SHSU
USA Elijah Jones (6'8''-F) of UTEP
USA Kaseem Watson (6'9''-F-2003) of UTEP
USA Jamal West Jr. (6'6''-F) of UTEP
USA Grant Newell (6'9''-F-2002) of WKU

C-USA All-Defensive Team 2026
Dibami
Lue
Harper
Martinez
Natt
All-Defensive Team
Cameroon Eric Dibami (6'10''-F-2006) of FIU
USA Braedan Lue (6'9''-F) of KSU
USA JJ Harper (6'5''-G) of Liberty
Dominican Republic Melian Martinez (7'0''-C) of La Tech
USA Kashie Natt (6'3''-G) of SHSU

C-USA All-Freshman Team 2026
Bliss
Dibami
Simpson
Walker
Boone
All-Freshman Team
USA Christian Bliss (6'4''-G) of Delaware
Cameroon Eric Dibami (6'10''-F-2006) of FIU
USA Trey Simpson (6'8''-F) of KSU
USA Jacob Walker (6'1''-G) of SHSU
USA Armelo Boone (6'4''-G) of WKU

C-USA All-Academic Team 2026
Bliss
Porter
Palek
Mims
Ilic
All-Academic Team
USA Christian Bliss (6'4''-G) of Delaware
USA Colin Porter (5'10''-G) of Liberty
USA Keith Palek (6'9''-F) of Missouri St.
USA Julius Mims (6'9''-F) of NM State
Serbia Veljko Ilic (6'10''-F) of SHSU

C-USA All-Tournament Team 2026
Johnson
Taylor
Bates
Thomas
Osei-Bonsu
All-Tournament Team
USA RJ Johnson (6'4''-G) of KSU
USA Amir Taylor (6'9''-F) of KSU
USA AJ Bates (6'3''-G) of La Tech
USA Avery Thomas (6'7''-F) of La Tech
USA Michael Osei-Bonsu (6'4''-F) of Missouri St.