Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference: Season 2025-26
Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference 2025-26
Tournament Winner: Aurora University
Coach of the Year: Kevin Hurd
Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference Final: Aurora University - Marian University 67-66 Aurora University (Steve Christiansen): Devon Richardson, Mekhi Doby, Devon White, Josh Tinney, Kenny Rosario, Zerrick Johnson, Bryden Gryzmala, Gavin Escobedo, Aramis Currin, Adam Awender, Matt Anderson, Gevon Grant, Jeffery Hillmer, Cullen Rauls, Isaiah Thompson, Jordan Schroeder, Isaac Ross, Alex Ross, Juan Madrigal, Robert Hutson, Connor Fitzgerald, Larry Carthan, Brycen Mahnke Standings 2025-26
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Team
W-L
NACC
- qualified to the play-offs  Aurora University - Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference Champions 2025-26
Arrived: Devon Richardson (Joliet Junior College)
Left: Christian Butler (coach assistant College of St. Scholastica)
 Aurora Edges Marian for 2026 NACC Men's Basketball Tournament Title-Mar 1, 2026
Mekhi Doby (6'3''-G) drained two free throws with 17 seconds to play to push Aurora University to a 67-66 victory over Marian University Saturday in the championship game of the 2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Men's Basketball Tournament at Thornton Gymnasium. The tournament title is the seventh for the Spartans (23-5) and the first since 2019. With the victory, Aurora receives the NACC's automatic berth in the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. It will be the 12th trip to the NCAA tournament in program history. The Spartans will learn their regional destination and first-round opponent during the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship selection show, which will air at noon on NCAA.com. No. 3 Aurora 67, No. 5 Marian 66 Marian (17-11) took an early advantage, leading 12-5 just over four minutes into the contest. Aurora was able to erase the deficit behind seven straight points from Juan Madrigal (6'4''-G), then grabbed a 15-12 lead on a 3-pointer from Cullen Rauls (6'1''-G) at the 12:39 mark. The Sabres momentarily retook the lead on a Derek Lindert (6'1''-G) 3-pointer with 4:01 to play, only to be countered by a 3-pointer from Rauls on the ensuing Aurora possession. The Rauls triple kicked off a 15-5 run to end the half, giving the Spartans a 40-31 lead at the break. Marian took advantage of a slow start from the Spartans in the second half, outscoring the hosts 16-6 over the first eight minutes to take a 47-46 lead into the under-12 media timeout. Aurora was able to stunt the Sabres' push momentarily, but a further 11-2 run pushed the Marian advantage to six points with 6:31 to play. The Spartans chipped away at the lead over the next six minutes, moving back in front on a pair of Mekhi Doby free throws with 17 seconds to play. Marian had a couple of chances in the waning seconds, but Marvin Haslett (5'11''-PG) had is layup blocked by NACC Defensive Player of the Year Devon Richardson (6'8''-C) and a 3-point chance from Alex Vassilakis missed the mark. Rauls, who was named the 2026 NACC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team Most Valuable Player, led Aurora with 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and perfect 8-of-8 effort at the free-throw line, while Jeffery Hillmer (6'4''-G) and Juan Madrigal chipped in 15 points apiece. Hillmer also pulled down seven rebounds. Richardson added six points, a game-high 17 rebounds, and six massive blocks. Vassilakis led four Sabres in double figures with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Ayeni (6'4''-F) added 17 points, while Haslett had 12 and Lindert had 10. NACC Final: Aurora - Marian 67-66 NACC Semifinals: MSOE - Marian 74-85 St. Norbert - Aurora 59-65 NACC Quarterfinals: MSOE - Lakeland 99-82 St. Norbert - Rockford 75-61 Aurora - Benedictine 94-82 Concordia Wisconsin - Marian 52-72 Courtesy of naccsports.org  All-NACC Awards 2026-Mar 1, 2026
 Mason Dopirak, guard from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, was voted the Player of the Year at the NCAA Division III.
He received multiple other awards, was selected to the First Team and Tournament Team.
Devon Richardson, center from the Aurora Spartans, was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year of NCAA Division III.
He collected multiple other honors, was chosen to the First Team and Tournament Team.
Juan Madrigal, guard from the Aurora Spartans, was named to the First Team at the NCAA Division III.
He also earned a spot in the Tournament Team.
Noah Mason, forward from the Benedictine University, was voted to the First Team of NCAA Division III.
Logan Landers, forward from the Concordia University Wisconsin, was selected to the First Team at the NCAA Division III.
Among many awards Landers' team won the WAC Tournament in 2023.
He was selected to the NACC All-Tournament Team in 2025.
Casey Verhagen, guard from the Concordia University Wisconsin, was chosen to the First Team of NCAA Division III.
Verhagen's team made it to the WIAC Tournament Semifinals in 2024.
Garrison Carter, forward from the Illinois Institute of Technology at Chicago, was named to the First Team at the NCAA Division III.
Among many awards he was selected as the All-NACC Honorable Mention between 2024 and 2025.
Andrew Ayeni, forward from the Marian University, earned a spot in the First Team of NCAA Division III.
He was also voted to the Tournament Team.
He was selected as the All-NACC Honorable Mention in 2025.
Jonathan Burroughs, guard from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, was selected to the First Team at the NCAA Division III.
Will Stuckey, guard from the St.
Norbert College, was chosen to the First Team of NCAA Division III.
All-Tournament MVP:  Cullen Rauls (6'1''-G) of AuroraPlayer of the Year: Mason Dopirak (6'2''-G) of MSOEDefensive Player of the Year: Devon Richardson (6'8''-C) of AuroraFreshman of the Year: Marvin Haslett (5'11''-PG) of MarianCoach of the Year: Kevin Hurd of MSOE All-NACC First Team 2026  Richardson  Mason  Landers  Verhagen  Carter  Ayeni  Burroughs  Dopirak  Stuckey Juan Madrigal (6'4''-G) of Aurora Devon Richardson (6'8''-C) of Aurora Noah Mason (6'5''-F) of Benedictine Logan Landers (6'9''-F) of Concordia, WI Casey Verhagen (6'0''-G) of Concordia, WI Garrison Carter (6'5''-F) of IlIinois Tech Andrew Ayeni (6'4''-F) of Marian Jonathan Burroughs (6'4''-G) of MSOE Mason Dopirak (6'2''-G) of MSOE Will Stuckey (6'1''-G) of St.NorbertAll-NACC Second Team 2026  Doby  Hillmer  Rauls  Hunter  Mrotek  Vassilakis  Bell  Freiburger  Pytleski  Chisom Mekhi Doby (6'3''-G) of Aurora Jeffery Hillmer (6'4''-G) of Aurora Cullen Rauls (6'1''-G) of Aurora Asanjai Hunter (5'11''-G) of Lakeland Peyton Mrotek (6'3''-G) of Lakeland Alex Vassilakis (6'1''-G) of Marian Jaden Bell (6'3''-G) of Rockford Mason Freiburger (6'6''-F) of St.Norbert Connor Pytleski (6'2''-G) of St.Norbert Ja'Quell Chisom (6'3''-F) of Wisc.LutheranAll-NACC Honorable Mention 2026  Sammons  Williams  Hardyman  Haslett  Cummings  Appel Ryan Sammons (6'3''-G) of Benedictine Darrian Williams (5'11''-G) of Concordia, IL Frank Paszkowski (6'3''-F) of Dominican, IL Hunter Hardyman (6'4''-F) of Edgewood Marvin Haslett (5'11''-PG) of Marian Derek Lindert (6'1''-G) of Marian Chase Cummings (6'3''-G) of MSOE Bryce Appel (6'6''-F) of Wisc.LutheranNACC All-Tournament Team 2026 Rauls Richardson Ayeni Dopirak Pytleski Cullen Rauls (6'1''-G) of Aurora Juan Madrigal (6'4''-G) of Aurora Devon Richardson (6'8''-C) of Aurora Derek Lindert (6'1''-G) of Marian Andrew Ayeni (6'4''-F) of Marian Mason Dopirak (6'2''-G) of MSOE Connor Pytleski (6'2''-G) of St.Norbert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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