Men's Basketball

PSAC Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week – 11

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced this week’s men’s basketball athletes of the week. In the West, IUP’s Tomiwa Sulaiman and Pitt-Johnstown’s John Paul Kromka were selected, while in the East, Carlos Carter and Dom Sleva were both chosen from Shippensburg.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced this week’s men’s basketball athletes of the week. In the West, IUP’s Tomiwa Sulaiman and Pitt-Johnstown’s John Paul Kromka were selected, while in the East, Shippensburg's Carlos Carter and Dom Sleva were chosen.
 
Western Division Athlete of the Week
 
14437

IUP
Tomiwa Sulaiman
Forward
Sophomore
London, England / West Nottingham Academy
 
Sulaiman averaged a double-double with 19.7 points and 12.0 rebounds in three games for top-ranked IUP men's basketball. He shot 57.5 percent from the floor, adding six blocks and four steals for the Hawks and played an average of 36.5 minutes in three games, helping IUP go 2-1 in that stretch. Sulaiman also grabbed 19 offensive rebounds in three games, logging a double-double in two of three games. He opened week with 12 points and nine rebounds at Mercyhurst on Feb. 6 and was sensational with 24 points, 15 rebounds (11 offensive), two blocks and a steal in a bounceback win against Pitt-Johnstown on Feb. 8. The sophomore closed the busy week by playing all 40 minutes, posting 23 points (8-13 FG), 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals at Clarion on Feb. 11.
 
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
14436

Pitt-Johnstown
John Paul Kromka
Forward
Senior
Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway
 
Kromka averaged 15 points (17-30 FG, 12-17 FT), 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals in three games for the Mountain Cats. Kromka had 16 points (5-11 FG, 6-8 FT), a team-high eight rebounds, game-high four blocks, an assist and two steals in a 73-66 win at Gannon on Monday He then recorded a team-high 21 points (9-12 FG, 3-5 FT), three rebounds, an assist, a block, and two steals in a 70-60 loss at No. 1/2 IUP on Wednesday. Kromka closed out the week with nine points (3-7 FG, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, five assists, game-high four blocks, and a steal in 78-75 win over Seton Hill on Saturday.
 
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
 
14434

Shippensburg
Carlos Carter
Guard
Senior
Indiana, Pa. / Indiana
 
Carter averaged 22.7 pts, 8.7 rebs., 3 assists, and 39.3 minutes played in three Raider victories. He posted a near triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists) in SU's 87-80 victory at Kutztown Feb. 8. Then, his 13 rebounds against the Golden Bears set a new career-high benchmark, while his eight assists tied his previous career best. Carter also blocked three shots, including a vital rejection late in the second half that helped seal the victory. The senior scored 23 points on 8-of-16 (50%) shooting in SU's 84-68 victory over PSAC East contenders West Chester, and then he logged 41 minutes and scored 22 points to help SU stave off a strong upset bid from the Mansfield Mountaineers Feb. 11 on the road, 80-79. During the three-game stretch, Carter shot 49 percent from the field and 92.9 percent from the foul line. Carter has scored 20 or more points in three straight, as well as 10 of his last 18 games. He ranks second in the PSAC in scoring at 18.4 points per game.
 
Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
14435

Shippensburg
Dom Sleva
Forward
Graduate Student
McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour
 
Sleva averaged 15.7 pts. and 14.3 rebs. in three Raider victories. He tied a career-high in defensive rebounds (17) and total rebounds (20) as SU held off a strong upset bid from the Mansfield Mountaineers Feb. 11 on the road, 80-79. Sleva logged 42 minutes in the overtime victory and forced Mansfield guard Idris Ali into a tough shot inside the paint in the final seconds of overtime, sealing the one-point win. He is one of only two Raiders in the last 25 years to pull down 20 rebounds in a game. His older brother, Dustin Sleva, pulled in 21 at Mansfield on Dec. 16, 2015. Sleva also posted three straight double-doubles to widen his NCAA Division II lead in that category. He now boasts 16 double-doubles on the season and leads NCAA Division II in total rebounds (305) and defensive boards per game (9.9).

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.