PSAC Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week – 9
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced this week’s men’s basketball athletes of the week Monday. From the East, East Stroudsburg Carlos Pepin and from Shepherd, Kyle Daggett were picked. Over in the West, Philip Alston of Cal U and John Paul-Kromka were picked.
Eastern Division
Athlete of the Week
East Stroudsburg
Carlos Pepin
Junior
Forward
Lodi, N.J. / Lodi
Pepin led ESU in points (22.0 ppg) and rebounds (13.0 rpg), and steals (3.5 per game) in a pair of wins over Lock Haven and Gannon. He had career-highs of 26 points and 15 rebounds against Lock Haven and became first Warrior to post double-double of 20+ points and 15+ rebounds since 2017-18 three double-doubles over past four games and has six total this season.
Defensive Athlete of the Week
Shepherd
Kyle Daggett
Forward
Walkersville, Md. / Walkersville
Daggett averaged 20 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in a 1-1 week for the Rams. Eleven of his 17 rebounds were defensive. He had a game-highs of 28 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocked shots in Shepherd's win over Kutztown on Saturday. His 28 points are also a career high. He hit a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left in overtime to lift the Rams to the win.
Western Division
Athlete of the Week
Cal U
Philip Alston
Sophomore
Forward
Columbus, Ohio / Westerville North
Alston averaged 29.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, as the Vulcans earned a pair of road victories in PSAC West play last week. He shot a combined 26-of-39 (66.7 percent) from the floor while playing 32.5 minutes per game. Alston recorded a double-double with 29 points and 17 rebounds (five offensive) on Wednesday in 75-67 win at Clarion. The Ohio native converted 13-of-24 from the floor and added four blocks and two steals versus the Golden Eagles. Alston then posted his fourth 30-point game of the season on Saturday, scoring 30 points on 13-of-15 shooting in an 87-71 victory at No. 11 Mercyhurst. He added six rebounds and two blocks, as the Vulcans snapped a nine-game road losing streak in the series against the Lakers.
Defensive Athlete of the Week
Pitt-Johnstown
John Paul-Kromka
Junior
Forward
Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway
Kromka averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, (11 def. rebs.) 2.3 assists, 2.7 steals, and 5.0 blocks and shot 75.7% (28-37) the field and 14-20 from free-throw line in the Pitt-Johnstown wins. He had game-highs of 23 points, 12 rebs, 5 steals and 3 blocks in 86-64 win over Edinboro on Monday and 20 points (9-10 FG), four rebs, four steals and game-high 5 blocks in 92-73 win at Mansfield on Wednesday. He concluded the week with a team-high 27 points (8-11 FG, 11-14 FT), 6 rebs, 1 asst. 2 steals, and game-high 7 blocks in 89-85 win over Seton Hill on Saturday.
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.