Arizona Western’s Marsai Mason commits to Division I program

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Arizona Western College standout forward Marsai Mason is continuing his basketball career at the D-I level after committing to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

Mason earned NJCAA All-American Second Team honors during his lone season with the Matadors, averaging 16.7 PPG and 9.9 RPG while shooting over 50% from the field.

With him at the helm, Arizona Western to a 22-9 regular-season record and a first-place finish in the ACCAC standings with a 12-3 conference mark.

Mason said Lindenwood's track record of developing players and helping them advance to higher levels played a major role in his decision.

"When the coaches first recruited me and I looked into it, they had a few people who went there last year, [and won] player of the year," Mason shared. "They ended up going [higher up] D1 the next year, so I'm like, if they're doing it consistently, then that's the place I should be...They have a lot of faith in me to come in and fit right into the program."

Mason now joins a Lindenwood program that finished 18-15 last season before being eliminated in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

He will look to build on a successful junior college career as he transitions to Division I basketball with the Lions.