Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (3/26/2025) – Gwynedd Mercy University opened the 2024-2025 season with a historic 13-0 start that included the 400^th career win (W, 84-83 vs. Immaculata University on Jan. 11) of Head Coach John Baron and propelled the Griffins to a 21-5 finish. The Red and Gold, Marymount University, and Neumann University finished with identical 9-3 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) records; after several tie breakers were exhausted, point differential during the regular season separated the Knights as the top seed while opposing the Saints and Griffins in the #2/#3 semifinal, respectively. There, the Saints proved to be the better team despite a 26-point performance from All-AEC First Teamer, graduate guard Shawn Summers Jr. (Montclair, N.J.). Summers was joined on the All-AEC roster by senior guard Aquil Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa.) who garnered his third All-AEC Second Team selection (2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2024-2025).

Gwynedd Mercy University's celebrated start began with an 84-50 PurpleStride Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Classic triumph over Rosemont College (Nov. 9). The Red and Gold wasted no time showing off their high octane offense as the Griffins owned a 13-point lead, 19-6 (12:51), within the first eight minutes and a 22-point perch, 40-18 (3:20), heading to the final three minutes of the first half. The Red and Gold leaned on their 50-28 halftime lead and weathered a 20-13 Raven run (63-48, 9:42) before closing out the contest with a 21-2 flourish; 84-50. Stewart led the performance with 15 points as he and Summers (14 points) were the ring leaders in the first half. Senior forward Dom Thomas (Mullica Hill, N.J.) was the third Griffin in doubles figures and he served as a valuable reserve with 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks.
 
Following the win over Rosemont College, Gwynedd Mercy University enjoyed a Battle of 309 victory over Arcadia University (W, 91-65 on Nov. 13), and subsequent November triumphs over Delaware Valley University (W, 94-86 on Nov. 19), Penn State Brandywine (W, 92-47 on Nov. 23), and Juniata College (W, 80-48 on Nov. 26). Only the Aggies gave them a challenge as Stewart and fellow senior captain Mike Marable (Philadelphia, Pa.) earned their titles with 32 points and a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, respectively.

Alvernia University gave Gwynedd Mercy University a scare on December 4, but Summers' last-second drive preserved the Griffins historic run in a 91-90 overtime conclusion. The Red and Gold trailed the Golden Wolves by 11 points at halftime, 51-40 (0:04), but erased the deficit early in the second half, 60-60 (13:50), and sent the contest to the extra frame with a successful free throw from junior guard D.J. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.); 81-81 (0:05). In the overtime period, another Johnson free throw gave the Red and Gold a late lead, 88-87 (1:53), before Summers' heroic finish.
 
Unfettered, Gwynedd Mercy University went on to future December wins over Penn State Abington (W, 101-61 on Dec. 6), Cairn University (W, 73-70 on Dec. 9), Lebanon Valley College (W, 83-69 on Dec. 14), and Saint Elizabeth University (W, 105-70 on Dec. 17).
 
This time only the Highlanders gave the Griffins a game as Summers was once again the Red and Gold's champion with 22 points on 9-of-12 (.750) shooting performance that included a perfect 3-of-3 (1.000) effort from long range, and was accompanied by a perfect free throw attempt (1-of-1, 1.000). He also grabbed three rebounds while making three assists, and recording two steals.
 
With the start of the New Year, Gwynedd Mercy University kept their remarkable run rolling with league wins over Marywood University (W, 87-78 (OT) on Jan. 8) and Immaculata University (W, 84-83 on Jan. 11), and a 94-48 drubbing of the University of Valley Forge (Jan. 13).
 
Overtime certainly served as the determining factor in the January-8 AEC win at Marywood University as Gwynedd Mercy University hit 7-of-9 (.778) from the field and 4-of-6 (.667) from the free throw line en route to an 87-78 victory over the Pacers. The Griffins took the opening stanza by a 36-25 score as they held the Pacers to 9-of-21 (.429) effort from the floor. The second half was nearly the opposite as the home team recovered by a 43-32 frame that saw the Red and Gold only find success on 38.2% (13-of-34) of their field goal attempts. In the end, Summers led four Griffins in double figures with 20 points; Marable was one of the others as he paired his team-high 12 rebounds with 16 points.
 
On January 11, Gwynedd Mercy University staved off several second-half comeback attempts from Immaculata University including the last to earn Head Coach John Baron his 400^th career win with an 84-83 AEC triumph over the Mighty Macs. The Red and Gold led for the majority of the first half, maxing their advantage at nine points on a three-point basket from junior guard Devin Benson (Williamstown, N.J.), 34-25 (4:40), before navigating their way to a 41-38 (0:00) halftime lead. But, the Mighty Macs battled to the bitter end, rallying from 12-point deficit, 70-58 (6:43), to challenge the Griffins at the final buzzer. Marable headlined Coach Baron's milestone victory with 23 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
Salisbury University put an end to the Red and Gold's run with an 81-54 final on January 18. Afterwards, Gwynedd Mercy University went on to defeat Mount Aloysius College (W, 86-48 on Jan. 20) and AEC rival, Centenary University (N.J.) (W, 86-60 on Jan. 22), before suffering another loss; 85-69 at Neumann University (Jan. 25). After the loss to the Knights, the Griffins enjoyed a pair of AEC wins over Pratt Institute (W, 79-60 on Jan. 28 and W, 90-73 on Feb. 1), before additional league triumphs over Marywood University (W, 77-68 on Feb. 5), Immaculata University (W, 73-62 on Feb. 8), and Marymount University (W, 76-70 on Feb. 12). The Red and Gold got revenge on their January-15 loss to the Saints and collected their 20th win of the 2024-2025 season with their February-12 triumph; Gwynedd Mercy University lead for most of the first half, but faced a 41-37 (2:01) halftime deficit before wearing down the Saints down with solid defense (Marymount University: 23-of-52, .442 FG), offensive rebounds (13), and plenty of point points in the paint (42). Summers was the leading scorer with 23 points and Marable grabbed eight rebounds in a balanced effort on the glass.
 
A 75-72, February-18 loss at Centenary University might have been the thorn in the Griffins claw as the Cyclone victory knocked Gwynedd Mercy University from the league's lead spot.
Marable did all he could to keep the Griffins in contention, but an 8-of-15 (.533) showing at the free throw line and a 38-24 Cyclones rebounding advantage led to the upset. Gwynedd Mercy University placed four players in double figures; Marable was one of two Griffins with a dozen points, while junior guard Jalen Snead (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Red and Gold with 14 points off the bench.
 
The 2024-2025 regular season ended with an 82-78 Alumni Day victory over the eventual AEC Champions, Neumann University (Feb. 21). Even though Neumann University held Summers to just two points in the first half, he finished 23 as he found his touch from both the field (9-of-11, .818 FG) and the free throw line (2-of-2, 1.000), while grabbing four rebounds, and providing two assists. He was greatly supported by the first-half performances Thomas (10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist) and sophomore forward Travon Mack (Coatesville, Pa.) (4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal).
  
In the February-26, AEC Semifinal at #2 Marymount University, #3 Gwynedd Mercy University tried all they could to overcome the Saints in a 102-86 final. A game-high 26 points (10-of-15, .667) from Summers (1 rebound, 3 assists, 4 steals) was nullified by the Griffins' poor showing at the free throw line – 13-of-25 (.520) – and uncharacteristic lack of defense as Marymount University advanced with a 67.3% (35-of-52) performance from the floor that included an efficient 9-of-14 (.643) effort from long range.
 
Summers became the seventh Griffin in program history to earn D3hoops.com All-Region honors as the All-AEC First Teamer was selected to the 2024-2025 Region 5 Second Team. headlined Gwynedd Mercy University's historic 13-0 start to the 2024-2025 season with a November-11 AEC Defensive Player of the Week honor and 20-point performances versus Delaware Valley University (20 points on Nov. 11), Penn State Brandywine (20 on Nov. 23), Juniata College (20 on Nov. 26), Cairn University (22 on Dec. 9), and Marywood University (20 on Jan. 8). He recorded his 1,000^th career point in the win over the Brandywine Nittany Lions and went on to score a season-high 29 points in an 86-80, January-22 victory over Centenary University (N.Y.) with additional 20-plus performances in AEC battles with Immaculata University (27 on Feb. 8), Neumann University twice (28 points on Jan. 25/23 on Feb. 21), and Marymount University twice (23 on Feb. 12/26 on Feb. 26). Summers was the league's first Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11) and last Player of the Week (Feb. 17), in between he garnered three AEC Weekly Honor Roll appearances (Nov. 25, Jan. 27, and Feb. 11).

At season's end, he led Gwynedd Mercy University in minutes (744) as he averaged 28.6 over his 26 starts (26 games played). He went 174-of-309 (.563) from the field, 30-of-91 (.330) from three-point range, and 70-of-98 (.714) from the free throw line, while grabbing 97 rebounds, and making 50 assists, 28 steals, and eight blocks. In addition to his league-lead in field goals (1^st, 174) and total points (1^st, 448), he also ranked among the AEC's Top-10 in points per game (2^nd, 17.2 PPG), minutes (7^th, 744), free throws (4^th, 70), free throw percentage (5^th, .714), and offensive rebounds (T5^th, 40). Summers paired his 17.2 PPG with 97 rebounds (3.7 RPG), 50 assists, 28 steals, and eight blocks.
 
Stewart tied Gwynedd Mercy University's single-season three-point record with 74 baskets made from beyond the arc; the total also served as the AEC's top. The Red and Gold captain was also the league leader in three-point percentage (1^st, .385), steals (1^st, 54), and steals per game (1^st, 2.1). Additionally, he placed among the conference Top-10 in field goals (5^th, 124), points (4^th, 369), PPG (4^th, 14.2), assists (9^th, 65), and assists per game (T9th, 2.5 APG). Like Summers, he started all 26 of the Griffins' games. Stewart grabbed 56 rebounds (2.2 RPG) and made one block, while hitting 124-of-289 (.429) from the field, 74-of-192 (.385) from three-point range, and 47-of-57 (.825) from the free throw line. He was named the AEC Player of the Week on December 16 and the AEC Defensive Player of the Week on February 4; he also enjoyed four AEC Weekly Honor Roll appearances (Nov. 11, Nov 25., Dec. 2, Dec. 9).
 
Alongside Summers (26 games played – 26 games started) and Stewart (26-26), Marable (25-25), Thomas (26-24), and Johnson (26-18) were mainstays in the Red and Gold's starting lineup. Marable made four AEC Weekly Honor Roll appearances (Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 4, Feb. 11) while averaging 10.2 points (256 total) and a team-high 6.2 rebounds (117 total) per game. He also totaled an AEC-leading 93 assists while contributing 21 blocks and 51 steals to the Gwynedd Mercy University defense. Thomas and Johnson were major components to that as well; the former averaged 7.6 points (198) and 3.7 rebounds (97) off 16 blocks and 16 steals, while the latter averaged 6.3 points (164) and 3.1 rebounds (80) off eight blocks and 49 steals. Johnson was the AEC Defensive Player of the Week on December 2 with a Weekly Honor Roll mention on November 18.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University also got significant contributions from their bench as Snead (26gp-1gs), Mack (25-3), graduate guard Dylan Harris (Bloomsburg, Pa.) (26-7), sophomore guard Mazen Sayed (Chichester, Pa.) (26-0), and sophomore forward Justin Savage (Philadelphia, Pa.) (15-0) were familiar faces at the scorer's table.
 
Snead put up career-highs across the stat sheet with 5.8 points (152 total) and 3.0 rebounds (78) per game, complemented by 79 assists, nine blocks, and 47 steals. He was named the AEC Defensive Player of the Week on both December 16 and December 23.
 
Mack made late-season strides and finished the year with totals of 90 points (3.6/game), 79 rebounds (3.2/game), 12 assists, 11 steals, and an AEC-leading 24 blocks.
 
Harris was a perimeter threat with 41-of-101 (.406) success rate from beyond the three-point line. He averaged 6.2 points (161 total) and 2.5 rebounds (66) with totals of 21 assists, three blocks, and 10 steals. He was named to the AEC Weekly Honor Roll on January 21.

A common backcourt partner of Snead, Sayed was crucial to the Griffins' transition game. He averaged 5.4 points (141 total), and 3.3 rebounds (85) per game with totals of 32 assists, five blocks, and 18 steals.
 
Savage was a factor before a mid-season injury, he totaled 111 points (7.4/game), 61 rebounds (4.1/game), 13 assists, eight blocks, and 17 steals in 15 appearances.