MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) announced the 2025–26 SSAC Men's Basketball Players of the Week for games played Feb. 2–8. Dalton State's Qualen Pettus was named Offensive Player of the Week, and Omarion Smith earned Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Pettus, a senior guard/forward from Fort Wayne, Ind., collected his second career weekly honor and first offensive award after averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 59% from the field. He highlighted the week with a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds in a win at UT Southern, going 12 of 19 from the floor.
 
Smith, a senior forward from Atlanta, Ga., claimed his sixth career defensive weekly honor. In a pair of conference wins, he totaled 10 blocks, eight of them at UT Southern, while averaging 7.0 rebounds and 12.5 points per game.
 
Previous Winners (Offensive, Defensive)
Week 1: KJ Rogers (Faulkner), KJ Rogers (Faulkner)
Week 2: KJ Rogers (Faulkner), Gil Gonzalez (Brewton-Parker)
Week 3: Kameron Johnson (Loyola), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
Week 4: Zachary Lee (Loyola), Esrael Yant (Blue Mountain)
Week 5: Gabriel Rivera (Faulkner), Kosta Bjelicic (Loyola)
Week 6: Ja'Ron Briggs (Dalton State), KJ Rogers (Faulkner)
Week 7: Kenton Steele (Point), Gil Gonzalez (Brewton-Parker Christian)
Week 8: Antonio Cochran (UT Southern), Josh Baugher (Life)
Week 9: Jamar Jenkins (William Carey), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
Week 10: Tommy Tisdale III (Brewton-Parker), Jonathan Goldson (Thomas)
Week 11: D'Andre Jefferson (Point), Gil Gonzalez (Brewton-Parker)
Week 12: Malik Franklin (William Carey), Jaylen Peters (Loyola)
Week 13: Kameron Johnson (Loyola), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
Week 14: Kenton Steele (Point), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
 
DONATE TO THE ROADRUNNER CLUB TODAY! Dalton State student-athletes are successful in the classroom and on the field of play because of their support system. Become part of that support system and make an impact that affects a student-athletes life. Click here to make your impact!  
 
FIND NEWS AND FOLLOW THE BIRDS: News and updates from Dalton State's men's basketball team is posted on dsroadrunners.com and on X (@DStateBBall), Facebook (@DStateBasketball) and Instagram (dstatebball). Be sure to follow to keep pace with the Birds!
 
#BeepBeep