Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team ended the first half with a bang, picking up a pair of wins in their final week of 2025. On Monday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) released their weekly Player of the Week awards, and redshirt freshman Ayden Goll was among the honorees. He was named Co-Men's Basketball Player of the Week, splitting the award with Frostburg State's Trey Simmons.
Goll would help lead the Cardinals to a 2-0 week against Franciscan and Davis & To Elkins, thanks to a pair of 20+ point efforts. He would total 51 points during the week, while making his presence felt all across the court. He would add eight rebounds and 10 assists during the week, while shooting an efficient 47.8% (11-23) from the floor and 50% (7-14) from three-point range. With both games coming down to the wire, Goll played a big role in each in helping the Cardinals seal the deal. Against Franciscan, it was his work from three-point range that saw him go a season-best 4-6 from downtown. However, against Davis & Elkins, he would get the job done from the charity stripe. He went a perfect 11-11 from the charity stripe in the effort, with four of those 11 makes coming in the final minutes of play. He leads the MEC with a 93.9% mark from the free theo line and looks to continue that success into the second half.
While it was a big week overall, it was his work against Davis & Elkins that stood out. It was here that he set his new career-high, putting up 30 points in the effort as he led the Cardinals to a 92-84 victory. Goll would shoot a team-best 37.5% (3-8) from the floor and added an 11-11 mark from the free throw line. When the game came down to the wire, he was able to close things out with four big free throws that fit the Cardinals over the 90-point mark and into the win column. Goll has been on a tear throughout the season, but has taken his game to the next level as of late. He has been in double digits in every game this season, but has eclipsed the 20-point mark in each of his last three games. During that stretch, the redshirt freshman has averaged 24.6 PPG, while averaging just over 21 PPG in his last five games. He has helped lead the Cardinals to their 7-3 start to the season and looks to continue his success into the second half.
With Ayden Goll picking up the win, the Cardinals have now had 26 student athletes earn Conference Player of the Week honors this season. He is the second Wheeling Men's Basketball player to earn the award, joining teammate Caleb Murray in winning the award. Murray was also the last Cardinal to win the award, taking home the MEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week award back on December 8th.
The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team returns to action on Saturday, January 3rd, when they take on West Virginia Wesleyan at 4 PM.
