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FRISCO, Texas --- Houston Christian University placed a pair of players on the Southland Conference All-Academic teams for the 2025-26 season. Ryan Bartley and Mambourou Mara were each recognized, marking the third straight season for HCU to have at least two players awarded.
 
A 6'6 guard from Decatur, Illinois, Bartley holds a 4.0 GPA while working towards a Master's Degree in Kinesiology-Sports Management. He transferred to HCU from Malone University, and in his lone season with the Huskies was one of five players to play in all 32 games, making 22 starts. He averaged 9.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42% overall and 32% from the three-point line.
 
Mara currently maintains a 3.8 GPA in Interdisciplinary Studies. The 6'6 forward from Conakry, Guinea played in 31 games with 14 starts in his first season with HCU after transferring from University of North Dakota. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds on the campaign, and his 1.5 blocked shots ranked fourth in the Southland Conference.
 
This is the fifth time the Huskies have placed at least two players on the All-Academic teams as a member of the Southland Conference, and the third straight season to do so.

Reveal Chukwujekwu and Colter Lasher were named in 2016-17 and Ian Dubose and Oliver Lynch-Daniels earned the honors in 2018-19. Pierce Bazil, Chi Achara and Tristan Moore were selected in 2023-24 before Bazil repeated alongside Bryson Dawkins and Elijah Brooks last season.
 
Noah Pagotto of East Texas A&M University was named the Southland's Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year.
 
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