Men's Basketball

PSAC Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week – 1

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced the first round of men’s basketball athletes of the week. In the West, Slippery Rock’s Jonathan McFall was selected for the offensive award, while Pitt-Johnstown’s John Paul Kromka was selected for the defensive award. In the East, East Stroudsburg’s Lakeem McAliley was named as the Athlete of the Week, while Lock Haven’s Dymir Montague was named as the Defensive Athlete of the Week.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced the first round of men’s basketball athletes of the week. In the West, Slippery Rock’s Jonathan McFall was selected for the offensive award, while Pitt-Johnstown’s John Paul Kromka was selected for the defensive award. In the East, East Stroudsburg’s Lakeem McAliley was named as the Athlete of the Week, while Lock Haven’s Dymir Montague was named as the Defensive Athlete of the Week.
 
Western Division Athlete of the Week
 
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Slippery Rock
Jonathan McFall
Guard/Forward
Senior
Nassau, Bahamas / Rabun Gap
 
Slippery Rock senior forward Jonathan McFall led Slippery Rock to a perfect 2-0 record last week with convincing wins over regional foes Alderson Broaddus (68-62) and Notre Dame (82-72). Over two games, McFall averaged 21.5 points per game on a .552 field goal percentage to go with 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. The highlight of the week for McFall came in The Rock’s double-digit win over Notre Dame as he scored a career-high 28 points while pulling down five rebounds, making three steals and blocking one shot. No other player in the PSAC West averaged at least 20 points and 5 rebounds per game last weekend.
 
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
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Pitt-Johnstown
John Paul Kromka
Forward
Senior
Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway
 
John Paul Kromka averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebs., 4.0 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal and shot .730 (17-23) in two Pitt-Johnstown wins to open the season at the Mountain Cat Tip-Off Classic. Kromka had 12 points (6-7 FG), 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist in 73-51 in the win over West Virginia Wesleyan during Friday's season-opener, and then had a game-high 25 points (11-16 FG), 6 rebounds, game-high 5 blocks, 1 assist, 2 steals in 72-65 in the win over Charleston on Saturday.
 
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
 
14218

East Stroudsburg
Lakeem McAliley
Forward
Sophomore
Philadelphia, Pa. / Mastery Charter
 
Lakeem McAliley dominated the Bowie State Tipoff Classic with two double-doubles. In 60 minutes on the court this season, McAliley has posted 60 points 26 rebounds, shooting 74.1 percent (20-27), 3-4 from 3PT, four steals and a block. Against Bowie State, the forward posted 35 points and 13 rebounds, totaling the most points by a Warrior since 2015-16. His scoring output is tied for the fifth most since 1985-86. In the season opener against CIAA favorite Fayetteville State, McAliley posted 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week 
14215

Lock Haven
Dymir Montague
Guard
Senior
Philadelphia, Pa. / Neumann-Goretti
 
Dymir Montague helped defend the net for Lock Haven as the Bald Eagles started off the season hot, starting 2-0 after winning both games at the UPJ Tipoff Classic. The senior confused the offenses he faced this weekend, setting back-to-back career game highs after posting four steals in game one and five steals in game two to combine for nine on the weekend while also hammering a block. In 55 minutes of playing time, he was averaging a steal every six minutes. The Philadelphia native led a dominating defense that created 45 turnovers and had 23 steals over the two games.
 
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, California (Pa.), Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Gannon, Indiana (Pa.), Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Mercyhurst, Millersville, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill, Shepherd, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.