LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Slippery Rock University men's basketball standout RJ Sledge has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
 
A freshman guard from Pittsburgh, Sledge earned the honor after helping lead The Rock to a pair of PSAC West road victories over Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Sledge is the third member of the SRU roster to have earned a weekly honor from the PSAC this season: Elijah Hill was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Dec. 1 and Dame Givner garnered PSAC West Athlete of the Week accolades Dec. 22.
 
In two games, Sledge compiled five total steals with three in SRU's 78-71 win against Clarion and two more as part of an 82-68 victory at Pitt-Johnstown.
 
A member of Slippery Rock's talented freshmen class, Sledge has appeared in 16 games as a rookie while making five starts. Sledge has begun his collegiate career by averaging 7.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 41.4 percent overall, 37.3 percent from 3-point range and 78.9 percent at the foul line. He ranks 18th in the PSAC in steals per game.
 
Joining Sledge in earning accolades from the league office this week was California's Bryson Lucas, who was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week after averaging a 23.5-point, 11.5-rebound double-double for the Vulcans in wins over Seton Hill University and No. 9 Gannon University
 
At 13-3 overall and 6-2 in the PSAC, Slippery Rock is off to one of its best starts in program history. The Rock plays two important divisional games this week 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays against Indiana University (Pa.) at Morrow Field House and 3 p.m. Saturday at Seton Hill.





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