JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Noth Alabama’s Donte Bacchus and Lipscomb’s Mateo Esmeraldo earned this week’s Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Men’s Basketball honors, announced Monday by the league office.
Bacchus led the way for the Lions in their two road wins last week to earn Player of the Week honors. He went 8-of-14 from the field to finish with 19 points and added nine rebounds in the win at Jacksonville State. Bacchus topped that performance with a 20-point night, his best of the season, at San Francisco two days later. He shot 57.1 percent from the field for the week, averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Esmeraldo took home the Newcomer of the Week honor after averaging 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in a pair of wins for the Bisons. He shot 64.3 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from beyond the arc, while dishing out 13 total assists to just one turnover.
Player of the Week
Donte Bacchus, North Alabama
Other Nominees: Rashaud Marshall, Austin Peay; Brian Waddell, Bellarmine; Chris Lockett Jr., Jacksonville; Grant Asman, Lipscomb; Trey Cady, North Florida; Nasir Mann, Queens; Chas Lewless, West Georgia.
Newcomer of the Week
Mateo Esmeraldo, Lipscomb
Other Nominees: Rashaud Marshall, Austin Peay; Brian Waddell, Bellarmine; Juan Cranford Jr., EKU; Evan Sterck, Jacksonville; Trey Cady, North Florida; Avantae Parker, Queens; Chas Lewless, West Georgia.
2025-26 Season Award Winners
Nov. 10 | Player: Tate McCubbin, Austin Peay;
Newcomer: Josh Smith, West Georgia
Nov. 17 | Player: Corneilous Williams, North Alabama;
Newcomer: J.R. Konieczny, FGCU
Nov. 24 | Player: Shelton Williams-Dryden, West Georgia;
Newcomer: Ethan Copeland, Stetson
Dec. 1 | Player: Jordan Ellerbee, FGCU;
Newcomer: Jordan Ellerbee, FGCU
Dec. 8 |
Player: Donte Bacchus, North Alabama;
Newcomer: Mateo Esmeraldo, Lipscomb