[Kutztown Press Release] FIVE KUTZTOWN BASKETBALL PLAYERS HONORED BY PSAC

[Josh Leiboff]

FIVE KUTZTOWN BASKETBALL PLAYERS HONORED BY PSAC
Dennis named PSAC East Rookie of the Year

KUTZTOWN, PA - Stephen Dennis (fr. West Chester/Henderson) of the Kutztown University men's basketball team received postseason awards from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), and four other Golden Bear Basketball players received All-PSAC East honors in voting conducted by the league's coaches. 

 

            Dennis was named PSAC East Rookie of the Year.  In addition, he received All-PSAC East second-team honors.  Dave Ben (so. Coatesville/Coatesville) and Sean McKeon (jr. Phoenixville/Phoenixville) were selected to the All-PSAC East first-team.  From the women's team, Jess Brady (sr. Wescosville/Emmaus) and Mercedes Van Wagner (jr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) were named to the All-PSAC East second team.

            Ben earned his first-ever All-PSAC honor after being named the PSAC East Rookie of the Year last season.  The guard/forward ranked second in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game.  He connected on a team-high 55 three-pointers.  Among PSAC East foes, Ben averaged 19.3 ppg, tied for the top spot.  A starter in all 28 games, Ben set a KU record making 148 free throws.  

            McKeon earns his first-ever PSAC honor after transferring from Duquesne University this season.  The 6-10 junior set the KU record in blocks this season knocking down 117 shots.  He also led the NCAA Division II in blocked shots.  His 4.18 blocks per game ranked first in the conference.  McKeon notched Kutztown's third-ever triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocks against the future PSAC champion Millersville.  A starter in all 28 games, McKeon averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season.

            Dennis was named as the PSAC East Rookie of the Year and earned a place on the All-PSAC East second-team.  Dennis was the only freshman named All-PSAC East.  He was named the PSAC East Rookie of the Week eight of the possible 13 weeks this season.  A starter in all 28 games, Dennis shot 78.5 percent from the free throw line (106-for-135) to lead KU.  He averaged 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

            The Golden Bears finished 17-11 this season, 6-6 in the PSAC East, their fifth-straight winning season, a KU record.  Kutztown also made its fifth-straight PSAC playoff appearance, also a school record.  KU hosted its first-ever men's basketball playoff game at Keystone Arena in the first round.  

            Brady was named to the PSAC East second team for the second time in her career. Brady started at guard/forward in all 28 games for the Golden Bears, averaging 10.4 ppg. She shot 47.2 percent from the field, knocking down 93 field goals on the season, good for second on the team.  Brady shot 84.2 percent from the line (80-95) to lead the team and the PSAC.  In her career, Brady is tied for third in free throw percentage for KU, shooting 79.9 percent.

Van Wagner was also named to the PSAC East second team for the first time, after being named PSAC East Rookie of the Year her freshman season.  She stared in all 26 games and led the team, averaging 11.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.  Van Wagner had 43 blocked shots this season to bring her career total to 136, tied for second all-time.

The Golden Bear women finished their season 9-17 overall, 5-7 in the PSAC East.  The team missed the playoffs by one game for the first time in 12 seasons.

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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
Website: http://www.kubears.com
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