KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the fourth week in a row, a Central Missouri Mule has taken home the MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday, Feb. 16.
 
Freshman guard Lazerek Houston wins the award for the second consecutive week, and third overall, after posting 39 points, adding nine assists, while shooting 57 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range, helping the Mules to a pair of home victories over Northeastern State and No. 25 Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
Against the RiverHawks, Lazerek had 21 points and a game-high seven assists, while recording a game-best 18 points on 7-of-11 from the field (64 percent), including 3-of-5 (60 percent) from beyond the arc, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk that was a SportsCenter Top-10 play, against the Lions. 
 
Houston, a native of Lincoln, Neb. ranks top-five in the nation in three offensive categories, including field goals made (203), points scored (557), and assists (139) while leading the Mules with four double-double performances on the year. The freshman is averaging 21.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, highlighted by seven 30-point outings through 27 games this season.
 
Central Missouri continues MIAA play on Thursday, Feb. 19, as they take on the Rogers State Hillcats (16-8, 10-5 MIAA), with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Okla.