INDIANA, Pa. – Every team looks for that signature victory each season. The Gannon men's basketball team might have produced that win Wednesday night. The Golden Knights overcame a six-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining and rallied for a 57-55 victory at seventh-ranked Indiana (Pa.).
Gannon became the first team to win at the Kovalchick Complex this season and only the second team since the arena opened in 2011. Indiana (Pa.) entered the contest with a sparkling 11-0 home record this season and a 24-1 home mark during the last two seasons.
The verdict also snapped an eight-game losing streak against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division leader Indiana (Pa.) and represented Gannon's first win against IUP since February 21, 2009. More importantly, the Golden Knights remained in a second-place tie with Slippery Rock and pulled within one game of IUP. The top Western Division seed receives hosting rights throughout the PSAC Tournament this season.
Gannon led 30-24 at halftime and grabbed its biggest lead of the evening at 35-24 after scoring the first five points of the second half.
Robert Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) drained a three-pointer 13 seconds into the half, before
Darrell Blanton (Cleveland, Ohio/Euclid) hit a pair of free throws 50 seconds later.
Indiana (Pa.) answered the bell at that point, controlling the next eight minutes. The Crimson Hawks exploded for a 21-3 run, turning an 11-point deficit into a seven-point lead. IUP held Gannon to 1-of-8 shooting while hitting 9-of-11 attempts during the run. Gonzaga transfer Mathis Keita's dunk while being fouled and his ensuing free throw gave the home squad a 45-38 edge at the 11:23 mark.
As IUP turned the table when Gannon held a big lead, the Golden Knights responded with the same treatment.
Oscar Macias (Cicero, Ill./Morton) brought a halt to the run with a big three-pointer, starting a 14-3 rally.
Still trailing 47-41, Gannon scored 11 of the next 12 points. Macias provided the lead-changing dagger with a triple to push the Golden Knights in front 50-48 at the 5:46 mark. Blanton followed up with a lay-up less than a minute later to cap the blitz and leave the score at 52-48.
The large crowd witnessed an extremely interesting final minute.
Adam Blazek's (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) lay-up gave Gannon a 56-52 lead with 29 seconds left, but Keita's three-pointer cut the deficit to 56-55 with 15 ticks remaining. After Blazek hit 1-of-2 free throws, Anthony Wells got a good look from the top of the key. But his three-pointer bounced off the back of the rim and gave the Golden Knights a two-point win.
Gannon never trailed during the first half. Blanton scored the first four points, helping the Golden Knights jump out to a 15-5 lead midway through the first stanza. The lead dwindled to 20-17 after a Marcel Souberbielle three-pointer, but the Crimson Hawks were unable to get closer before heading into halftime with a 30-24 deficit.
Blanton rebounded from a five-point effort against Lock Haven last Saturday with a team-best 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting against IUP. Macias and Blazek chipped in 11 points each.
Gannon shot 42.6 percent (20-47) from the field, 55.6 percent (5-9) from three-point range and 42.9 percent (12-28) from the free throw line. The Golden Knights shot at least 50 percent from long range for the second consecutive game and fifth time this season.
Keita led all scorers with 16 points and eight rebounds for IUP. Souberbielle was the only other Crimson Hawk in double digits with 11 points.
Indiana (Pa.) shot 39.6 percent (19-48) from the floor, 23.8 percent (5-21) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (12-18) from the charity stripe.
Gannon, which was among others receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25 Poll, improved to 18-4 overall and 12-4 in the PSAC. Indiana (Pa.), ranked seventh in the NABC Top 25 Poll, dropped to 17-3 overall and 14-2 in conference action. The Golden Knights conclude a two-game road swing Saturday, February 9 at California (Pa.). The contest is scheduled for 5 p.m.
