Vulcans’ McClurg, Lucas garner PSAC awards
One dominated from the perimeter, and the other had a breakout season playing inside. Together, K.J. McClurg and Bryson Lucas are two major reasons why the California men’s basketball team is still playing as the PSAC heads to its conference tournament semifinals this weekend.
Coaches in the PSAC’s West Division took notice of the play of McClurg and Lucas this season and the duo was rewarded Thursday with a pair of major awards from the conference.
McClurg was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, and Lucas was voted the Defensive Player of the Year.
A 6-3 sophomore guard from Morgantown, W.Va., McClurg became the Vulcans’ first player of the year in two decades and received All-PSAC West accolades for the first time. He leads the PSAC and ranks eighth in the country in scoring at 22.7 points per game. McClurg has scored at least 20 points in 17 games, including six 30-point performances.
The 6-3 guard ranks among the top 10 in the league in both field-goal percentage (.536), free-throw percentage (.826) and three-pointers (70).
Lucas, a 6-6 redshirt sophomore forward from Clarksburg, W.Va., is the first Cal player to be named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year since 2013. He ranks fourth in the conference with 31 blocked shots and seventh with 51 steals, both team highs, and averages 6.0 rebounds per game. He is averaging a career-high 11.6 points per game in his first season as a starter.
McClurg was named to the All-PSAC West first team along with teammate Zyan Collins. Cal’s Jermaine Hall Jr., was voted to the second team.
California, which is ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, will play in the conference tournament semifinals Saturday against Lock Haven, the PSAC East winner. The game will be played in Erie, at Gannon’s Hammermill Center. Tipoff will be at noon.
The other semifinal matches Gannon against Millersville.