Men's Basketball

PSAC Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week – 5

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selected this week’s men’s basketball athletes of the week. In the West, IUP’s Shawndale Jones was named the best offense athlete, while Pitt-Johnstown’s John Paul Kromka was named the best defensive athlete. In the East, East Stroudsburg’s Carlos Pepin was given the offensive award, while Shippensburg’s Dom Sleva was given the defensive honor.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selected this week’s men’s basketball athletes of the week. In the West, IUP’s Shawndale Jones was named the best offense athlete, while Pitt-Johnstown’s John Paul Kromka was named the best defensive athlete. In the East, East Stroudsburg’s Carlos Pepin was given the offensive award, while Shippensburg’s Dom Sleva was given the defensive honor.
 
Western Division Athlete of the Week
 
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IUP
Shawndale Jones
Guard
Graduate Student
Pittsburgh, Pa. / The Kiski School
 
Jones helped lead IUP to an undefeated stretch of PSAC crossover play by averaging 21.0 points and 4.5 rebounds. Jones shot 44.3% (13-30) from the floor and 87.5% (14-16) from the foul line and added nine assists and two steals. The guard began crossover week with 19 points and four rebounds. He followed it up with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in win against West Chester (12/19/22). Jones also recorded the 1,000th point of his collegiate career, spanning both NJIT and IUP, in the victory against West Chester.
 
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
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Pitt-Johnstown
John Paul Kromka
Forward
Senior
Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway
 
Kromka averaged 11.0 points (8-15 FG), 8.0 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.0 blocks in two wins.  First, he recorded 15 points (5-7 FG, 5-6 FT), 5 defensive rebounds, 1 assist, and a game-high 4 blocks in 81-79 win over West Chester on Sunday. The next day, Kromka had 7 points (3-8 FG, 1-2 FT), a game-high 11 rebounds (8 defensive), a team-high 5 assists, 2 steals, and another game-high 2 blocks in 68-56 win over Millersville.
 
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
 
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East Stroudsburg
Carlos Pepin
Forward
Redshirt Senior
Lodi, N.J. / Lodi
 
Pepin led No. 25 East Stroudsburg in points (38), rebounds (30), assists (8) and steals (3) in two crossover wins against Seton Hill and California. Pepin committed just four turnovers in 63 minutes of action and recorded two double-doubles.
 
Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
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Shippensburg
Dom Sleva
Forward
Graduate Student
McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour
 
Sleva's work on both ends of the court has made him indispensable for the Raiders this past week. He has played an average of 39.9 minutes in three games, including 44.13 minutes in a close overtime battle with Fairmont State on Dec. 13. The noted glass-gobbler has averaged 13.3 rebounds per contest during that span, including an average of 10 on the defensive glass. His 15 boards against Fairmont State mark the third time already this season he has recorded 15 more rebounds. He has recorded two steals in two of the three games, for an average of 1.7 over the course of the week. His 18-point, 14-rebound performance was vital in the Raiders 60-56 over Gannon on Dec. 19.

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