Parker and Johnson Placed on AEC Men’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Lancaster, Pa. – (11/14/2023) – Gwynedd Mercy University sophomore guard
D.J. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) and senior guard
Aziz Parker (Westampton, N.J.) earned spots on the first
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll of the season with their performances in the Griffins’ 2-1 week versus Penn State Abington (W, 82-63 on Nov. 8), #5 University of Mount Union (L, 82-89 (OT) on Nov. 10), and Carlow University (Pa.) (W, 80-56 on Nov. 11). Parker averaged a team-high 15.3 points per game (PPG), 7.0 rebounds per game (RPG), 1.7 assists per game (APG), and 1.7 steals per game (SPG), while Johnson was a major contributor as well with 7.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, and 2.3 SPG. The AEC Player of the Week title went to Neumann University senior forward Jalen Vaughns (Tobyhanna, Pa.), while Immaculata University graduate forward Tyler Tillery (Baltimore, Md.) garnered the AEC Defensive Player of the Week honor. Johnson and Parker were joined on the Weekly Honor Roll by Marywood University junior guard Brendan Franko (Wantage, N.J.) and Centenary University (NJ) freshman guard Kenneth Rankin (Ewing, N.J.).
Gwynedd Mercy University (2-1) welcomed Penn State Abington (0-1) to the Griffin Complex on Wednesday, November 8, for a thrilling season opener before a raucous crowd of the Red and Gold. The Griffins rushed out to an early 18-5 (13:20) lead and led the Nittany Lions by a 36-29 halftime spread before pushing the final margin to 19 points; 82-63, with a 46-34 second-half wave. Parker led three Griffins in double figures with 19 points; he hit 5-of-9 (.556) from three-point, grabbed nine rebounds, and made a steal. Johnson offered eight points, six rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
Over the weekend, the Griffins traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for Chatham University’s Tip-Off Classic. There, #5 University of Mount Union (1-0) narrowly escaped Gwynedd Mercy University in an 89-82 overtime finish. The Red and Gold owned a 41-30 halftime advantage and led as late as 1:50 (74-72) before needing a last-second three pointer from Parker to force the extra frame; 78-78 (0:03). Unfortunately, the Raiders scored the first basket (80-78, 4:30) and gradually distanced themselves for the seven-point win. Parker led six Griffins in double figures with 16 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and made two assists while Johnson finished the affair with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The following day, on Saturday, November 11, Gwynedd Mercy University (2-1) evened their stay at the Chatham University Tip-Off Classic with an 80-56 triumph over Carlow University (0-3). The Griffins had six double-digit scores with senior
JoHaan Vinson (Philadelphia, Pa.) headlining the effort with 20 points on 6-of-9 (.667) shooting performance and a 6-of-7 (.857) success rate from the free throw line. Parker provided 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and four steals, while Johnson totaled four points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action on Wednesday, November 15, with an 8:00 p.m. Battle of 309 tip-off at Arcadia University.
