UC Merced’s Elijah Charles Earns CCAA Player of the Week Honors
Merced, CA – University of California, Merced senior forward Elijah Charles has been recognized as the FloCollege/CCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, the conference announced on February 25, 2026.[3] This is Charles’s first CCAA weekly award, adding to his two Cal Pac Player of the Week awards from the previous year. He now shares the program record with three total weekly awards.
Recent Performances
Charles averaged 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game during the Bobcats’ final homestand of the season. He shot an impressive 72% from the field and converted 16 of 21 free throw attempts.[3]
His standout performance came in a win against Cal State LA, where he recorded a career-high 36 points and 16 rebounds. This performance marked the CCAA’s first 35-15 double-double since the 2015-16 season and UC Merced’s first since February 16, 2013.[3] Charles scored 26 of those points in the first half and made his first ten field goal attempts. He also contributed with two blocked shots.[3]
In a near upset win against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Charles added 12 points and eight rebounds, along with a block and a steal.[3]
Season Statistics and Rankings
As of February 25, 2026, Charles leads the CCAA with a .645 field goal percentage, 9.9 rebounds per game, and 12 double-doubles. He ranks fifth in the conference with an average of 16.3 points per game.[3] His rebound average is on pace to set a new program single-season record.[3] He currently holds the program’s all-time record with a career .668 field goal percentage.[1]
Recent Game Against San Francisco State
Despite Charles’s double-double performance of 16 points and 12 rebounds, the UC Merced Bobcats were defeated by San Francisco State University 74-69 on February 26, 2026.[2] Charles’s dunk extended Merced’s lead to 58-51, but the Gators rallied with a 9-1 run to secure the victory.[2] San Francisco State’s Milandev Chatha led all scorers with 15 points, although Pawllos Habtom led the Bobcats with 23 points.[2]
Looking Ahead
The San Francisco State Gators will conclude their 2025-26 season against the California State University, Stanislaus Warriors on Saturday.[2]
Sources:
- UC Merced Bobcats – Elijah Charles
- Golden Gate Xpress – Gators men’s hoops comes back against UC Merced
- Los Banos Enterprise – UC Merced’s Elijah Charles Earns FloCollege/CCAA Player of the Week