PSAC Men's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 6 (Dec. 23)
PSAC Men's Basketball Weekly Release - Dec. 23 (pdf)
Kutztown's Ryan Washington becomes the second different Kutztown player to earn the PSAC East Player of the Week award this season after recording a double-double in KU's only game of the week, a win over UDC. East Stroudsburg's Duane Johnson is the PSAC East Freshman of the Week for the second time this year after his efforts helped the Warriors improve to 9-0 on the year. Gannon's George Johnson, after a three-game layoff, came back and averaged 27 points per game to help lead the Golden Knights to a pair of wins and for his exploits, earns the PSAC West Player of the Week. Clarion's Jordan Lessane becomes the second Golden Eagle to earn the PSAC West Freshman of the Week award this year after he helped Clarion to a win in its only game of the week.
PSAC Players of the Week - Dec. 23
PSAC East Player of the Week
Ryan Washington, Kutztown
F, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa./Wissahickon
Washington posted a double-double for the second straight game, scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to help Kutztown to an 81-77 win over District of Columbia in the Golden Bears’ only game of the week on Tuesday. His performance gave him three double-doubles in KU’s last four games and his 22 points was just one shy of the season-high. Washington scored his 22 points on an impressive 9-of-13 shooting (69.2 percent) and was also 4-of-6 from the free throw line. He also recorded two blocks and two steals.
PSAC East Freshman of the Week
Duane Johnson, East Stroudsburg
F, Fr., Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood
Johnson earns his second East Freshman of the Week award of the season after helping the Warriors to two more wins last weekend over Dominican and Caldwell to move to 9-0 for the first time since 1971-72. He averaged 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and shot 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from the field in the two games. He scored a team-high 11 points, including nine in the second half, in a 73-60 win over Caldwell on Sunday. He also had seven points, three rebounds and a block in just 13 minutes of play in a 78-74 win over Dominican on Saturday.
PSAC West Player of the Week
George Johnson, Gannon
G, Jr., Arlington, Va./Wakefield
Johnson led Gannon to a 2-0 week with single-digit wins over Glenville State and Daemen by averaging 27.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists while also shooting 58.1 percent from the floor (18-for-31), 47.1 percent from three-point range (8-for-17), and 90.9 percent from the free throw line (10-for-11). The junior returned from a three-game absence by scoring a career-high 26 points (9-of-15 shooting) in the win over Glenville State along with eight rebounds, six assists and a steal. That included four free throws in the last 50 seconds of the game, helping seal the win. Johnson topped that career high with 28 points against Daemen on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He also added four assists, three boards and a steal. He scored 19 of his points in the second half, including five free throws in the final 43 seconds to seal another win.
PSAC West Freshman of the Week
Jordan Lessane, Clarion
G, Fr., Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Mt. Vernon
Lessane scored eight points and dished out three assists in just nine minutes of play to help Clarion to a win over Penn State-Dubois in the Golden Eagles’ only game of the week. He also picked up three steals and committed just one turnover. He shot 3-of-6 from the field, including 1-of-2 from three-point range.
PSAC Team Notes
Bloomsburg Huskies
The Huskies have not played since Dec. 12…Bloomsburg will return to action on Dec. 29 when it travels to Goldey-Beacom…The Huskies will also host crossover games on Jan. 2 and 3 with Lock Haven and Edinboro.
California Vulcans
The Vulcans are off to a 7-1 start this season for their best start since 2003-04 when they opened at 10-0…Cal U has won four-straight games at Hamer Hall dating back to the final game of last season…The Vulcans postponed their game with Chestnut Hill on Sunday with no make-up date scheduled…At Lake Erie on Monday, Cal U tied a season-high with six three-pointers and 20 free-throws made…Sr. F Chris Moore posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench against the Strom…Cal U swept the season-series against Lake Erie after the teams split the series last year with the home team winning each game by only a combined 13 points…The Vulcans have committed less than 20 turnovers in seven-straight games - all wins.
Cheyney Wolves
The Wolves did not play this week...Cheyney was scheduled to play Lincoln this past Saturday but the game was postponed due to the record breaking winter storm that came through the Philadelphia area...The game was rescheduled for Sunday, January 31 at 3:00 p.m...The contest will still be played at the Liacouras Center.
Clarion Golden Eagles
Jamar Harrison's seven steals vs. PSU-DuBois Sunday tied him for the 6th most at Clarion since 1981 and were the most at home by a Golden Eagle since Dale Thomas has seven vs. IUP during the 2002 season…As a team, Clarion recorded 22 steals for the 2nd time this year tying for seventh-most at the school since 1981…Shameel Carty had his second double-double of the year in the win over PSU-DuBois with 13 points and 11 rebounds…Clarion is 6-2 for the second straight year and for the 15th time in head coach Ron Righter's 22 seasons at the school...The Golden Eagles have averaged 17 wins per year in the other 14 seasons they have started 6-2 ranging from 22 wins in 1997 to 11 wins last year...That includes 11 15-win seasons and three 20-win seasons.
East Stroudsburg Warriors
ESU will enter 2010 at 9-0 after beating Dominican (78-74) and Caldwell (73-60) at the ECAC Holiday Classic at Caldwell...The Warriors can match the 1971-72 team with a 10-0 start on January 2 vs. Clarion...Sr. G Andy Heimbach scored 24 points vs. Dominican and Fr. F Duane Johnson had a team-high 11 points vs. Caldwell, part of a bench that scored 39 points (28 of team's 43 in second half)...ESU has eight players averaging 7.0 ppg and seven with 18.0 minutes per game...Sr. G Robby Pines leads the PSAC with 6.6 assists per game and has a 3.5 ast-to ratio...Heimbach is 5th in 3's per game (2.8) and 9th in percentage (45.5), one of three players in the top 10 in both...ESU is 2nd in free throw percentage (72.5) with all four guards over 80 percent.
Edinboro Fighting Scots
Edinboro was idle last week...Before ‘Boro’s layoff, Cory Somerville posted a career-high for the second straight game with 21 points against Penn State Greater Allegheny…All 11 players who dressed scored against the Nittany Lions…Steve Cress came off the bench to add 14 points, two shy of his career-high set a year ago against Penn State Greater Allegheny…Fr. G Chris Klimchock handed out 11 assists without a turnover in just 20 minutes vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny, then came back with a season-high 17 points to lead the win over Charleston(WV). He had seven assists and one turnover, along with hitting four free throws in the final two minutes to hold off the Golden Eagles…Justin Moore posted his second double-double of the season against Charleston with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Al Muteba had his first with 16 points and 11 boards…The Fighting Scots host Alderson-Broaddus on December 29.
Gannon Golden Knights
Gannon heads into the Christmas break with a 3-3 record, evening its record after winning two games in the span of four days...The Golden Knights have won three consecutive home games after victories against Glenville State (88-80) and 18th-ranked Daemen (68-64)...Jr. George Johnson scored a career-high 26 points vs. Glenville State...Four days later, he topped it with 28 points against Daemen...Johnson scored 30 points during the second half in those two games, hitting 8-of-11 shots and 5-of-6 three-pointers during those second halves...Jr. F Travis Brannen posted 33 points and 10 rebounds against Glenville State. Both marks represented career-highs and produced his first double-double in a Gannon uniform. He was 15-of-21 from the field against the Pioneers...Gannon has fought hard for its victories this season. All three victories have come by eight points or less...The Knights shot 51 percent in their last two games.
IUP Crimson Hawks
IUP moved up one spot to No. 4 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll and then remained undefeated with a 96-90 victory at Seton Hill…The 8-0 start is the best since the 1995-96 team won its first 11 games and was ranked No. 1 in the country… The 96 points and 57.9 percent field goal percentage were both season highs for the Crimson Hawks, and IUP has shot 76.0 percent or better from the line in its past five games to reverse an early season slump that saw them shoot just 56.8 percent over the first three contests…Six IUP players scored in double figures versus the Griffins, including a career-high 21 by Ashton Smith and 20 by Thomas Young…Darryl Webb had 15 points and is within 20 of reaching the 1,000 plateau…IUP is off until hosting Millersville and West Chester January 2-3 in the first round of PSAC crossover games.
Kutztown Golden Bears
Kutztown's scheduled game last Saturday at Holy Family was postponed because of the snowstorm that dumped 23.2 inches on Philadelphia. No makeup date has been announced yet...The Golden Bears begin a four-game home stand Tuesday night when they host UDC...Also visiting Keystone Hall, where KU has won 18 straight games will be Lincoln (Dec. 29, 7 p.m.), Gannon (Jan. 2, 3 p.m.) and Indiana (Jan. 3, 3 p.m.)...Gannon defeated KU three times last year, including in the NCAA Atlantic Region championship...Currently, Division II National Player of the Year candidate Stephen Dennis leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in scoring (25.2), is tied for first in assists (6.4), third in free-throw percentage (84.6) and third in 3-point field goal percentage (53.2)...Nationally, Dennis is tied for second in scoring and eighth in assists...Ryan Washington leads the PSAC in blocked shots (2.8) and is fourth in scoring (20.2)...Julius Gray is second in 3-point field goals made per game (3.2) and seventh in scoring (17.2)...Tamir Johnson leads the nation and conference in field goal percentage (73.1)...Kutztown has not played a game since it defeated UDC on the road, 82-76...Dennis has scored 25 or more points in three straight games.
Lock Haven Bald Eagles
Lock Haven is 3-4 overall and enters the holiday season on a two-game winning streak after LHU picked up a pair of overtime wins at the Indiana Regional Medical Center Holiday Classic Tournament, hosted by IUP on December 12 & 13...The Bald Eagles don't play again until Saturday, January 3 when they travel to Bloomsburg...So. F Eric Brennan had another huge week for LHU and led the team in scoring with 24.7 points-per-game...Brennan's scored in double-figures in every game this season and nine straight contests dating back to last season...On they year, he's averaging 19 points-per game...Sr. F Warren Christian is averaging 14.4 points-per-game...On the season LHU has four players averaging in double-figure scoring.
Mansfield Mountaineers
It was literally a cold and hot trip to Florida for Mansfield at the Courtyard by Marriott Holiday Classic hosted by Lynn University in Boca Raton…Mansfield had its worst game in recent memory in a 86-51 loss to Barry in the opener…Mansfield shot just 18% from the floor in the first half and scored 51 points…It was the fewest points scored by a Mountaineer team since 2002 and the fewest in head coach Rich Miller’s five-year tenure…Mansfield got a sense of redemption the following evening in a 91-88 win over Lynn…The Mountaineers shot 56% from the floor in the second half to rally for the win snapping a three-game losing skid…Jr. Yuseff Carr recorded double-doubles in both games.
Mercyhurst Lakers
The Lakers (7-2) defeated Urbana 72-69 in their only action of the week to avenge a 70-67 loss to the Blue Knights on Dec. 2…Jr. G Heiden Ratner led three Lakers in double-figures with 17 points and tied for the team lead with four steals, which matched a career high set Nov. 15 against Penn State-Greater Allegheny…He has led the Lakers in scoring in each of the last four games, averaging 19.5 points per game during that span…Sr. F Jordan Armstrong returned to the lineup for the first time since injuring his ankle at Urbana…He finished with four points in 11 minutes…Jr. G Shelton Jackson is the only player to start all nine games…The Lakers features a balanced offense in which nine players average six or more points per contest, led by Ratner and G/F Elliot Engelmann (11.0 ppg)…11 different players have made their way into the starting lineup this season…Mercyhurst is now on a four-game winning streak and will not return to action until PSAC mandated crossover play on Jan. 2 and 3 when the Lakers host Shippensburg and Cheyney.
Millersville Marauders
Millersville dropped a home game to Goldey-Beacom last Monday to finish with a 5-2 record prior to its holiday layoff...Millersville had improved to 5-1 for the third time in the last four seasons with 63-59 home victory over Virginia State the previous Friday...The victory was the 198th of Fred Thompson's career, leaving him just two shy of becoming the third coach in school history and the second fastest to 200 career wins...Now in his 11th season, Thompson has averaged 17.5 wins per year with Millersville...Sr. Alen Ahmetovic tied for team-high honors with 11 points, giving him double figures for the first time in his 77-game career. Ahmetovic averaged 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 points in the first 71 games of his career but is averaging 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds this year. He has scored at least eight points in each of the last three games and at least five rebounds in four straight...Jason Blake and Palmer McDurfee combined for 14 assists and just two turnovers.
Shippensburg Red Raiders
The Red Raiders are in the middle of a 20-day break from competition in advance of final exams and the holidays but will travel right back to Mercyhurst for their next game…Shippensburg will face the Lakers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 2 to start the official PSAC crossover schedule...Prior to its layoff, Shippensburg (6-3) finished its weekend two weeks ago with one victory in three games, defeating Shepherd but falling to Washington Adventist and Virginia Union in the Mercyhurst Invitational…SU's 74-57 victory over Shepherd was highlighted by the Red Raiders allowing just 19 rebounds, the lowest total by an opponent under ninth-year head coach Dave Springer and the fewest overall by an SU opponent in more than 12 seasons…Shippensburg is now 6-0 this season when holding opponents under 60 points and 0-3 otherwise.
Slippery Rock - The Rock
The Rock improved its season record to 8-0 and extended its regular-season win streak to 16 games with an 87-84 victory Monday at Shepherd...All five Rock starters scored 10 or more points in the game...The win was SRU's 17th in the last 18 games and 19th in the last 21 outings...SRU is now 29-8 under second-year head coach Kevin Reynolds...The 8-0 start is one win better than last winter's opening run and the best start by a Rock team since the 1963-64 team won its first nine games...The 16-game regular-season win streak is five shy of the school record of 21 set in 1990 (final 16 games of 1989-90, first five games of 1990-91)...SRU opens a three-game homestand Dec. 30 vs. Ohio University Eastern before it meets Cheyney and Shippensburg on Jan. 2 and 3 in PSAC crossover action.
West Chester Golden Rams
Senior forward Ralph Hegamin recorded career highs in points and rebounds to help the West Chester men’s basketball team to a 82-65 victory over Neumann University in a non-league matchup inside Hollinger Field House two Thursdays ago...Hegamin dropped 31 points on 13 of 19 shooting and grabbed 18 rebounds to push West Chester (9-0) to yet another comfortable victory...West Chester (9-0) is off to its best start in the modern era of men's basketball with its nine straight wins...The Golden Rams also topped Nyack on the road two nights before...The West Chester men now break until after the new year with their next action coming on the road against California (Pa.) on Jan. 2.