Lancaster, Pa. – (2/22/2026) – An 11-3 league record ensured Gwynedd Mercy University the second seed in the upcoming 2025-2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Basketball Championship Tournament…
 
...WEATHER DELAY: Due to Sunday's inclement weather, the start of the playoff has already been postponed; the semifinal round – hosted by the #1 and #2 seeds – have been rescheduled for Thursday, February 26.
 
On February 26, #1 Marymount University (16-7, 13-1) will host the winner of the #4 Neumann University (16-9, 8-6) vs. #5 Marywood University (13-12, 6-8) in an 8:00 p.m. semifinal; the Knights and Pacers are currently scheduled to meet in an 8:00 p.m., AEC First Round game on Tuesday, February 24.
 
The #2 Gwynedd Mercy University (18-7, 11-3)/#3 Centenary University (N.J.) (11-14, 9-5) semifinal will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, regardless of any weather that could close campuses through Tuesday, February 24.
 
The AEC Men's Basketball Championship is on-schedule to take place on Saturday, February 28, at the home of the highest remaining seed. A tip-off time is yet to be determined…
 
Gwynedd Mercy University and Centenary University split their regular season meetings; the Red and Gold won the January-21 contest at John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center by a 94-83 spread, but lost the February-18 grudge match – without senior captain D.J. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) – by a 76-70 decision.
 
Johnson was a major factor in the first contest as he recorded his first collegiate double-double - 16 points, 11 rebounds – while recording four assists and two steals in the victory. Gwynedd Mercy University shot well - 53.0% (35-of-66) from the floor, 55.6% (10-of-18) from three-point range, and 70.0% (14-of-20) from the free throw line - and did so in transition as they scored 22 off turnovers and 17 on the fastbreak. In the end, six Griffins finished in doubles figures; Johnson (16 points) was joined by fellow senior guard Jalen Snead (Philadelphia, Pa.) (16), graduate guard Dylan Harris (Bloomsburg, Pa.) (15), sophomore guard sophomore guard Zaiyin Keys (Chichester, Pa.) (14), junior guard Mazen Sayed (Chichester, Pa.) (11), and sophomore guard Bruce Smith (Philadelphia, Pa.) (10).
 
At the Griffin Complex, Centenary University gave Gwynedd Mercy University trouble all night long as the Cyclones spun a 9-0 (17:30) opening run into a 76-70 victory. The Red and Gold could not find their touch as they were 27-of-67 (.403) from the field. Snead (8-of-14, .571) and Smith (6-of-12, .500) were the only Griffins who performed well in the loss; the former led the Griffins with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while the latter helped with 16 points, six rebounds, and a block. Off the bench, junior guard Mazen Sayed (Chichester, Pa.) was a contributor with nine points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
 
Johnson has led Gwynedd Mercy University with 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while totaling 78 assist (3.3/game), 65 steals (2.7/game), and eight blocks (0.3/game). He has been flanked by several co-stars; Smith has averaged 12.5 points per game (PPG) while making a team-high 122 field goals (122-of-259; .471), Harris has pieced together one of the greatest shooting seasons in program history with a program-record 75 made three pointers (75-of-173, .434) to date and a 97.4% (38-of-39) success rate at the charity stripe, and Snead has been the Griffins' every-man with 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists (100 assists), 2.2 steals (54 steals), and 0.4 blocks (10 blocks) per game. Off the bench, Sayed has been a pest to Red and Gold rivals with 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists (63 assists), 0.9 steals (22 steals), and 0.1 blocks (2 blocks) per game.

Gwynedd Mercy University has littered the AEC Men's Basketball Weekly Reports as Johnson has earned three Defensive Player of the Week awards (Nov. 10, Jan. 12., Feb. 16) and five Weekly Honor Roll appearances (Dec. 15, Jan. 5, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23) this season. Snead was named the Player of the Week on November 24 and a Weekly Honor Roll mention on November 24, January 26, and February 23. Smith garnered an Honor Roll spot on January 19.