Malik Willingham, who led the men’s basketball team to its first national championship, has been named Minnesota State’s Male Athlete of the Year, which was announced Monday.
The award is voted on by Minnesota State coaches and staff members.
Willingham is the fourth men’s basketball player to receive the award, joining Monte Dufault (1992-93), Jamel Staten (2004-05) and Jefferson Mason (2010-11).
Last year’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year was wrestler Darrell Mason.
Willingham, a guard from Waseca, played in 133 games for the Mavericks in five seasons, including 98 starts. He was named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s first team twice and was the second player in team history to be named the Northern Sun’s Player of the Year. He also became the 10th All-American in team history.
Last season, the Mavericks went 35-2, winning the Northern Sun regular season and tournament championships. The Mavericks then won six straight games in the NCAA tournament to claim the national title. He assisted on the winning basket at the buzzer in the two biggest wins of the postseason against Northwest Missouri State and Nova Southeastern.
Willingham finished his career ranked third in career scoring (1,729 points), second in 3-pointers made (278), second in 3-pointers attempted (741), fifth in assists (415), sixth in steals (152) and seventh in field goals made (617).
Others nominated for the award include Trayton Anderson (wrestling), Shen Butler-Lawson (football), Ben Laffen (golf), Tanner Maier (cross country), Shemar Miller (track & field), Sam Morton (hockey) and Ryan Wickman (baseball).
The women’s athlete of the year award will be announced Tuesday.