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Mid-Season Standouts in Mountain West Basketball: A Look at the 2025-26 Season
As the 2025-26 college basketball season reaches its midpoint, it’s a good time to recognize some of the top performers in the Mountain West Conference. Several players and coaches have distinguished themselves through strong performances and leadership.
Top Player: MJ Collins, Utah State
Many expected Mason Falslev to be the frontrunner for player of the year, but his teammate MJ Collins has emerged as a leading contender. Collins, a transfer student from Vanderbilt, is currently the highest-scoring player in the Mountain West, averaging 20.1 points per game. He also contributes 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals each game. Furthermore, Collins leads the conference in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, showing his overall scoring ability.
Top Defensive Player: Mason Falslev, Utah State
Mason Falslev has made a name for himself with his defensive skills, particularly within Utah State’s adaptable defense. He is on track to lead the conference in steals for the second year running, averaging 2.6 steals per game this season after achieving 2.3 last year. Falslev’s ability to anticipate plays and make steals is valuable.
Top Sixth Man: BJ Davis, San Diego State
BJ Davis of San Diego State is making a big impact off the bench. The junior guard has not started any games this season but is averaging 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals in each game. His performance is even better in Mountain West games, where he scores 13 points, grabs 5 rebounds, makes 3 assists and 2 steals.
Top Freshman: Jake Hall, New Mexico
Jake Hall has been a key player for New Mexico, starting in all 17 games this season. He leads all freshman players with an average of 14.6 points per game, along with 3.1 rebounds. Hall is a reliable shooter, making 46.4 percent of his shots from the field, 40.3 percent from three-point range, and 80.5 percent from the free-throw line. He recently scored 20 points in two consecutive games and set a team freshman record for the most three-pointers made in a single game with seven.
Top Coach: Jerrod Calhoun, Utah State
Jerrod Calhoun has earned recognition as the top coach in the conference, leading Utah State to a successful season. His leadership and strategies have made Utah State the team to beat in the Mountain West.
Top Team: Utah State
Utah State has clearly set itself apart as the conference’s best team. They are one of only two Mountain West teams that remain undefeated in conference play, and they have an 11-game winning streak that started last year. Nationally, Utah State is ranked in the top 25 by both NET and KenPom, showing their strength compared to other teams across the country. No other team is even in the top 40 of either ratings system.
These mid-season awards highlight the standout players, coach, and team in the Mountain West Conference. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if these individuals and teams can maintain their high levels of performance and compete for conference championships and national recognition. The second half of the season promises to be exciting, with many important games to be played and opportunities for players to make a name for themselves.
