HELENA, Mont. – Valley City State (N.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) were named on the third edition of the 2025-26 Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Men's Basketball Players-of-the-Week awards, announced Tuesday by the conference office.

Offense Player of the Week: JR Cison, Valley City State (N.D.) JR Cison had a great debut week for the Valley City State Men's basketball team. The senior from Lake Zurich, Ill. scored 77 points over three games and earned his first Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

He led Valley City State (N.D.) to an undefeated 3-0 record for the week, thanks to his 25.7 points average on his 28-of-51 field goals (54.9 percent) and 15-of-27 from the 3-point line.  He also converted all six free throw attempts. 

Cison scored 30 points in VCSU's season opener victory over Minnesota-Moris on his 12-of-24 field goals and 6-of-13 3-pointers.  He dished out six assists in the game.  He followed with 21 points in Vikings' victory at Mount Marty (S.D.) and 26 points (9-of-14 field goals, 6-of-8 3-pointers) in VCSU's win versus Doane (Neb.).

This is Cison's first career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

The Vikings are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Mitchell,South Dakota for a game with Dakota Wesleyan. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

Defense Player of the Week: Jaden Phillips, Bellevue (Neb.) Phillips, a senior guard from Oakland, Calif., was selected as the Defense Player of the Week.

He totaled eight steals and a pair of blocked shots in two dominating Bellevue's victories.  Phillips led a swarming BU's defense that held their opponents to just 63.5 points per game on 42 percent field goal shooting.

He was part of the Bruins' team that racked up 29 total steals and forced their opponents to 44 turnovers in two games combined.

This is Phillips' first career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.