PSAC Communications
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced its first set of Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week for the 2024-25 season. In the West, Slippery Rock’s Jomo Goings (Athlete of the Week) and California’s Bryson Lucas (Defensive Athlete of the Week) were honored. In the East, East Stroudsburg’s Lakeem McAliley (Athlete) and Millersville’s Montell Cooper (Defensive) were selected.
Western Division Athlete of the Week
Jomo Goings
Slippery Rock
Guard
Redshirt Junior
Washington, D.C. / Winston Churchill
Goings posted an impressive stat line of 26.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game over two contests against Shaw and Virginia Union at the Atlantic Region Challenge. He opened the year by producing a 26-point, 14-rebound double-double against Shaw that also included five steals and three blocks before tallying 26 more points the following night vs. Virginia Union alongside six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Goings exited the opening weekend of the year as the PSAC West’s leader in both scoring and steals as well as being ranked second in the division in blocks, fourth in rebounding, and ninth in assists. He also went a perfect 25-for-25 at the foul line and has now made 35 consecutive free throws dating back to the end of last season.
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Bryson Lucas
California
Forward
Junior
Clarksburg, WV / Robert C. Byrd
Lucas averaged a double-double with 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, plus posted 3.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game over the weekend to help California open the year with a pair of victories over programs from the Mountain East Conference. He finished with eight rebounds, one block and four steals while scoring 16 points on Friday in a 112-103 double-overtime win at No. 11 Charleston (WV). Lucas then registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, along with five assists, two blocks, and two steals in an 84-71 victory over Glenville State on Saturday.
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
Lakeem McAliley
East Stroudsburg
Forward
Redshirt Senior
Philadelphia, Pa. / Mastery Charter
McAliley led ESU with a pair of 20-point performances while averaging less than 18.5 minutes per game in two victories against Elizabeth City State and Lincoln (PA). He averaged 26 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.5 steals, and a block while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the free throw line.
Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Montell Cooper
Millersville
Guard
Graduate Student
Glenn Dale, Md. / Our Lady of Good Council
Cooper’s on-the-ball defense was key in helping Millersville to a 2-0 start in which it won by an average of 21.0 points per game. Cooper recorded a double-double of 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds while blocking a shot and recording a steal in the opener against Claflin, and he recorded three steals, blocked a shot, and handed out five assists in 25 minutes of the blowout win over Point Park. Point Park scored 90 points against Mansfield in the team’s first game of the year, but with the help of Cooper’s defense, they were held to just 25 points in the first half and had only 40 points with just over 11 minutes to play in the game.