WALESKA, Ga.— According to a release from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) office on Monday, Mike Wade is the league's newest Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week. Not only does this mark the first AAC weekly honor of Wade's career, but it also stands as the Cavaliers' initial defensive award of the campaign. Overall, the Cavs own three AAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week recognitions in 2025-26, with the other two landing on the offensive side of the court.
 
A native of Burlington, N.C., Wade stuffed the stat sheet during Montreat's 78-65 victory over Union Commonwealth University on Jan. 3. Not only did he match his Cavalier career-high in steals with four thefts, but he also set his Montreat career-high in rebounding with 10 boards, seven of which were of the defensive variety. Wade's career-high efforts came across 27 minutes of play and were achieved without committing a single foul.
 
Offensively, Wade aided the Cavs, too. The upperclassman dished out two assists and poured in seven points, all while shooting 50.0 percent from the field (2-4 FG), 50.0 percent from deep (1-2 3-pt FG) and 100.0 percent at the free-throw line (2-2 FT).
 
For the official AAC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week release, click here.
 
Wade and the Montreat College men's basketball team are back in action this Saturday, Jan. 10 with another home AAC matchup, this time against the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. inside McAlister Gymnasium.