PSAC Men's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 2 (Nov. 23)
PSAC Men's Basketball Weekly Release (11-23) (pdf)
West Chester's Ralph Hegamin is this week's PSAC East Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in a 3-0 start for the Golden Rams. East Stroudsburg's Terrance King is the second different Warrior to earn the PSAC East Freshman of the Week in as many weeks after helping ESU to a pair of wins. Lock Haven's Eric Brennan is the PSAC West Player of the Week while Edinboro's Anthony Lytle is the PSAC West Freshman of the Week after each led their teams to wins in their only respective games of the week.
PSAC Players of the Week - Nov. 23
PSAC East Player of the Week
Ralph Hegamin, West Chester
F, Sr., Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd Kellam
Hegamin averaged a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds in leading West Chester to a 3-0 start to the season with wins over USP, Lincoln and Wilmington, the latter of which was a five-overtime marathon. Hegamin also averaged three assists on the week while shooting 48.3 percent (29-for-60) from the floor. He started the week with a 21-point, 12-rebound performance on 9-of-17 shooting in a 77-52 win over USP. He then put up 23 points and 15 boards in a 69-68 win over Lincoln that came down the wire. Then, in a 5-OT, 80-77 road win at Wilmington, Hegamin went for 25 points and nine rebounds and also had four assists and committed just two turnovers in a team-leading 61 minutes of play.
PSAC East Freshman of the Week
Terrance King, East Stroudsburg
F, Fr., Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North
King becomes the second straight East Stroudsburg player to earn PSAC East Freshman of the Week honors after averaging 15 points, 4.5 rebounds and shooting 66.7 percent from the floor (12-for-18) in two ESU wins over Penn State-Greater Allegheny and Mercy at Shippensburg’s Wolf Bus Lines Classic. King made his first two career starts in the two wins and recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, two block and a steal in just 17 minutes in the win over Mercy. He then contributed 12 points, two rebounds and a block and an assist in just 13 minutes vs. PSU-Greater Allegheny. King was also a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the two games.
PSAC West Player of the Week
Eric Brennan, Lock Haven
F, So., Chester, Pa./West Catholic
In Lock Haven’s only game of the week, Brennan turned in an 18-point, 14-rebound performance to help lead the Bald Eagles to a 73-68 win over Charleston. Brennan also contributed five blocks and three assists, shot 64 percent from the floor (9-for-14) and committed just two turnovers in 34 minutes of play. Of his 14 boards, 11 were on the defensive end and his 14 rebounds are also the sixth-most in school history in a single game.
PSAC West Freshman of the Week
Anthony Lytle, Edinboro
F, Fr., Altoona, Pa./Altoona
Lytle contributed to Edinboro’s 99-83 win over West Virginia Wesleyan by scoring 13 points and pulling down seven rebounds to earn the first PSAC West Freshman of the Week award of the season. Lytle scored his 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line. He also dished out an assist.
PSAC Team Notes
Bloomsburg Huskies
The Huskies have started the season 0-2 after a 68-53 season opening loss to Chestnut Hill College last Monday and a 67-62 loss to Slippery Rock on Saturday…So. F Larry Webster nearly notched a triple-double against Chestnut Hill, accounting for 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 11 rebounds and a school-record 9 blocks…Webster had 16 points, 7 rebounds - including 6 offensive - 4 assists and 2 blocks against Slippery Rock…Fr. F Ed Hall has come off the bench in each of the first two games to average 24.5 minutes, 12 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks…Hall is shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and has 4 offensive rebounds in each of the two games.
California Vulcans
The Vulcans opened the 2009-10 season with a 2-1 record at the Alaska Invitational, hosted by Alaska Fairbanks … Junior transfer forward Andrew Young led the team in scoring at the tournament, averaging 16.7 points per game … Head coach Bill Brown has now earned 398 career victories, including a school-record 273 wins … Cal U shot 78.8 percent (52-of-66) from the free-throw line after shooting less than 57 percent from the charity stripe last year … The Vulcans featured three new starters this year at the tournament in Young, junior transfer point guard Travis Williams and true freshman guard Ryne Niemiec
Cheyney Wolves
The Cheyney men did not play this week and get back in action on Tuesday night at Washington Adventist (Columbia Union). Cheyney started the season with an 100-92 victory at Pfeiffer in the opening round of the Highway 52 Shootout. Cheyney fell to Catawba in the finals and currently stands at 1-1.
Clarion Golden Eagles
After not shooting over 66 percent in a game since 1981, the Golden Eagles did it twice last week hitting 66.7 percent of its shots vs. PSU-New Kensington Tuesday and then hitting 66.7 percent of its shots at Shepherd Friday. Clarion has now shot 66 percent or better only four times since 1981, the first year such records are available. The 66.7 percent Tuesday was a Tippin Gym high during that span … Clarion's 124 points vs. PSU-New Kensington Tuesday are the seventh most by the Eagles since at least the 1964-65 season … Shameel Carty shot a perfect 9 of 9 vs. PSU-New Kensington, which tied the school record for shooting percentage in a game and was the most made in a perfect game since 1980-81 … With 9 3-pointers this season, Mike Sherry has moved into 9th all-time in school history with 137 made 3's.
East Stroudsburg Warriors
): ESU won its first three games by an average of 48.7 ppg (97-48 vs. PSU-Schuylkill, 101-52 vs. Mercy and 109-61 vs. PSU-Allegheny) . . four of the Warriors' top five scorers are newcomers . . the only returner, Sr. G Andy Heimbach (13.3 ppg), is 8-for-15 from the 3-point line and set the school record for career 3's (168) in the season opener . . Fr. F Duane Johnson (14.3 ppg) has been in double figures all three games . . Fr. F Marcus Brown (12.7 ppg), Fr. F Terrance King (11.7 ppg) and Jr. G Micah Covert (9.0 ppg) are also new additions for 2009-10 . . Sr. G Robby Pines has 18 assists and 3 turnovers . . ESU shot 65.6 percent from the field vs. Mercy and 94.4 percent (17-18) at the line vs. PSU-Allegheny, both the best marks in eight years under head coach Jeff Wilson.
Edinboro Fighting Scots
Edinboro opened the season with two freshmen in the starting lineup, Anthony Lytle (13 pts., 7 reb.) and Chris Klimchock (8 pts., 4 asts., 4 stls.), bringing back memories of the 1997-98 team which started two freshmen and went on to finish 26-8 … Byron Knight, the older brother of former Boro standout Devon Knight, played in his first organized game since his senior year at Penn Hills High School in 2003, and led Edinboro with 21 points. The junior guard added 6 rebounds and a pair of blocks … after starting all 28 games last year, Justin Moore came off the bench and finished with 10 points and 7 boards … Cory Somerville had a double-double in his first game as a Fighting Scot, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The 6’5” sophomore sat out last year after transferring from Slippery Rock … Chris Bess added a career-high 19 points in a reserve role … head coach Greg Walcavich is now 10-3 against the school he previously coached.
Gannon Golden Knights
Gannon dropped a 73-43 home decision to Urbana last Saturday in the program's season opener. It was Golden Knights' first season-opening loss since a 103-99 double-overtime setback to Pitt-Johnstown in 1995-96. Gannon was 52-13 overall and 42-5 in season-openers at home prior to Saturday's game. The Golden Knights had also won 32 of its previous 33 home games. Gannon lost six of their top seven scorers from a year ago, which accounted for 88 percent of its scoring in 2008-09. Urbana was only the 11th team to out-rebound Gannon in the last 95 contests.
IUP Crimson Hawks
IUP won its first two games of the season, including a 70-62 victory at Alderson-Broaddus when the Crimson Hawks rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit versus the perennial WVIAC contender. IUP entered the season ranked No. 18 in the NABC coaches' poll. Darryl Webb had his 21st career double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds versus the Battlers. Akida McLain made his IUP debut in an 82-64 win over Thiel when he had 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals. Julian Sanders made 8 of 16 shots from 3-point distance in the first two games and has a career total of 81, climbing to 15th in school history. Sanders led the Crimson Hawks with 19 points versus Thiel and had 23 in the win at Alderson-Broaddus.
Kutztown Golden Bears
Julius Gray has started strong. He has scored 20 points or more in the Golden Bears' first two outings. He scored a team-high 23 points against Villanova in an exhibition and tallied 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting in Kutztown's season-opening victory over Wilmington. …Stephen Dennis finished two rebounds shy of his first career triple double. …He dished out a career-high 10 assists to go along with his 17 points against Wilmington. …Kutztown has won 16 consecutive home games. …The Golden Bears scored the first 16 points of the game and the final eight points of the first half against Wilmington. …The Golden Bears had five players reach double figures in scoring against Wilmington. …Ryan Washington blocked three shots against Wilmington. …The composite score of KU's last two openers against Wilmington is 194-125. …Kutztown beat Penn State-Berks, 90-49 last year. …The Golden Bears are off until Nov. 30 when they host PSU-Berks.
Lock Haven Bald Eagles
The Lock Haven University men's basketball team is 1-1 on the young season and coming off a thrilling 73-68 win over Charleston. LHU fell in its season-opener at home to Shippensburg. Sophomore forward Eric Brennan (Chester, Pa./West Catholic) leads the team with 16 points-per-game. He's also averaging 14 rebounds has seven steals. Senior forward Warren Christian (Baltimore/Catonsville C.C.) is giving the Bald Eagles solid numbers and is dropping 14.5 pts./game and adds 10.1 boards. In the win over Charleston, Brennan had a monster double-double. He scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, the sixth most in a single game for LHU. Redshirt-sophomore Andres Carpio (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) scored a career-high 21 in the win over CU.
Mansfield Mountaineers
Mansfield has an eight-day gap between its season opening 83-73 win over Bowie State until it host UDC Tuesday, Nov. 24 … the Mountaineers play their first five games of the season at home … Yuseff Carr, who earned the first weekly PSAC East Player of the Week recogniation, scored 23 points with nine rebounds against Bowie while sophomore Tony Fannick recorded a season opening double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Mercyhurst Lakers
Mercyhurst opened the 2009-10 season with a 98-64 win over Penn State Greater Allegheny before going 1-1 at the St. Michael's tournament to bring the Lakers current record to 2-1… Mercyhurst downed Concordia (NY) 74-59 while falling to Chestnut Hill 76-68… Heiden Ratner, a junior guard and transfer from James Madison, has made an immediate impact, leading the team in scoring on two occasions, and was named the PSAC West Player of the Week for his efforts in the opener where he posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists… the Lakers have led at the half of all three games this season and have yet to be outrebounded … Mercyhurst has room to improve at the charity stripe, hitting over 63 percent from the free-throw line in one game to date… In his seventh season, head coach Gary Manchel is now 94-76 overall and 13 victories away from becoming the program's all-time wins leader.
Millersville Marauders
One year ago, the Marauders lost to C.W. Post 105-65, but on Saturday, they knocked off the 2009 Elite Eight team 76-73 in overtime to improve to 2-0 for the third year in a row and just the fifth time in Fred Thompson's 12 seasons. Jason Blake and Palmer McDurfee tied for game-high honors with 19 points apiece, and combined to shoot 17-of-17 at the free throw line. Blake scored 17 of his 19 in the final 25 minutes of the game. Blake led the team in scoring for the second straight game and it is the first time he has scored 18 or more in back-to-back games. Nigel Davis recorded career highs with 17 points and eight rebounds. Millersville sank 27-of-34 free throws, marking the team's best percentage when shooting more than 30 free throws since sinking 28-of-33 against East Stroudsburg on Feb. 21, 2004.
Shippensburg Red Raiders
Shippensburg (3-0) earned a victory on the road at Lock Haven to open the season and competed this past week in its home-opening Wolf's Bus Lines Classic, earning victories over PSU-Greater Allegheny (96-49) and Mercy (74-47)...three different players (Tariek Belcher, Craig Van Scyoc, Daziah Miller) have led the team in scoring thus far...all 12 players that took the floor in the home opener against PSU-Greater Allegheny scored at least two points and the team totaled its most assists (27) in a game under head coach Dave Springer...SU has won seven consecutive home-openers...four player are currently averaging double figures in scoring...senior forward Daziah Miller was named the Wolf's Bus Lines Classic Tournament MVP.
Slippery Rock - The Rock
The Rock recorded its 10th straight regular-season win last Saturday with a 69-64 triumph over Bloomsburg in PSAC crossover action ... Four players finished the game with double-figure scoring totals ... The Rock has had a total of 10 double-figure scoring efforts in its first two games ... The Rock is idle for eight days before hosting Seton Hill in a non-conference game Nov. 30 ... That will be the first of three games the Green and White will play in the span of six days ... SRU all-time leading scorer and 1991 second-round NBA draft pick (Minnesota Timberwolves) Myron Brown became the first Rock men's player to have his jersey retired when he was honored last Saturday.
West Chester Golden Rams
West Chester University opened the 2009-10 season with three wins in its first week of competition ... West Chester is 3-0 without the services of senior guard and co-captain Kenneth St. George, who suffered a concussion against Rider in an exhibition game ... the Golden Rams upended USP, 77-52, in the opener, before coming out on top in two thrilling road contests ... West Chester hung on for a 69-68 win at Lincoln University ... WCU then set a school record with a, 80-77, win at Wilmington that went five overtimes ... Ralph Hegamin scored better than 20 points in all three games ... Hegamin registered his 18th career double-double in WCU's season opener against USP ... he also averaged better than 40 minutes player per game thanks to playing 61 of 65 minutes in the 5OT game ... Hegamin has 761 career points at West Chester.