Lancaster, Pa. – (1/12/2026) – Gwynedd Mercy University senior guard D.J. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) made his fourth appearance on the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Basketball Weekly Report and earned his second as the AEC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week award following an impressive 2-0 week versus league rivals Pratt Institute (W, 72-63 on Jan. 7) and Immaculata University (W, 88-86 on Jan. 10). The Griffin captain averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 4.0 steals per game; he recorded two blocks and seven steals in the victory over the Mighty Macs.
 
Opposite Johnson, Neumann University senior guard D.J. Earl (Middletown, Del.) was named the AEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week. The AEC Men's Basketball Weekly Honor Roll included Neumann University senior forward Donte Dupriest (Philadelphia, Pa.), Immaculata University fifth-year guard Dylan Crews (Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore guard Anthony McClary (Oxon Hill, Md.), Marywood University senior guard Collin Himmelberg (Chapel Hill, N.C.), and Pratt Institute freshman forward Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University (9-4, 2-0) opened the 2026 portion of their schedule and AEC play with Wednesday night's 72-63 victory at Pratt Institute. Johnson found himself at the center of the Red and Gold game plan as he finished with a game and career-high 20 points on 6-of-11 (.545) shooting effort. The performance included four threes (4-of-6, .667) and came with six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
 
Three days later, the Red and Gold captain was one of five Griffins to score in double-digits as Gwynedd Mercy University owned of a 48-33 (0:08) halftime lead and a 65-47 (9:03) mid-second half edge, before holding off Immaculata University (1-12, 0-2) in an 88-86 (0:01) final. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) finished the affair with 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and seven steals; he led or shared the team-lead in each of the last three stat categories
 
Gwynedd Mercy University continues their AEC schedule on Wednesday, January 14, when they visit Marywood University for a 6:00 p.m. tip.