Evan Phoenix Action Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
The Gannon men's basketball team is headed to the PSAC Final Four for the fourth time in five years.
70
Slippery Rock ROCK-M 21-9
77
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 21-8
Slippery Rock ROCK-M
21-9
70
Final
77
Gannon University GAN-M
21-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock ROCK-M 21 49 70
Gannon University GAN-M 31 46 77

Next Game:

vs. Shippensburg University

3/3/2018 | 7:00 PM

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Full Schedule
Mar. 03 (Sat) / 7:00 PM
vs. Shippensburg University

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Defeats Rock 77-70; Advances to Fourth PSAC Final Four in Five Years (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 77, Slippery Rock 70
  • Records: Gannon (21-8), Slippery Rock (21-9)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center (Gary Miller Court)
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team out-rebounded the nation's second-best rebounding team 42-34 and led by as many as 13 points before earning a 77-70 victory against Slippery Rock Wednesday night in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals at the Hammermill Center. Gannon's 14th consecutive home win gave the Golden Knights their fourth PSAC Final Four appearance in the last five years.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The opening seven minutes and 10 seconds featured five ties and four lead changes as the two programs traded punches.
  • Trailing 11-9, Gannon generated 10 straight points to assume control at 19-11 with 11:55 remaining in the first half.
  • Senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) broke an 11-11 tie with a three-pointer while being fouled. His ensuing free throw was followed by back-to-back buckets from senior Gerrell Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview).
  • Gannon pushed its lead into double digits with 9:17 left in the first half and led by as many as 12 points (27-15) at the 4:57 mark.
  • Slippery Rock momentarily cut the deficit to 29-21, but a lay-up by freshman Cyril Ogbuagu (Lagos, Nigeria/Riverdale Baptist (Md.)) provided Gannon with a 31-21 lead at the intermission.
  • The visitors came out of the halftime locker room hot, ripping off a 10-2 run during the first three minutes and 19 seconds and pulling within 33-31.
  • Gannon maintained a lead between two and six points during the next three minutes, before a brief 6-0 run push its lead back into double digits. Two points each from Jackson, redshirt sophomore Frank Webb Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mount Carmel) and junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) gave the home squad a 45-35 advantage midway through the second half.
  • The Golden Knights produced their largest lead of the evening at 65-52 with 1:37 to play, but it was far from over.
  • Five consecutive Slippery Rock three-pointers cut the deficit to 71-67 with 29 seconds left.
  • However, Gannon hit 15-of-16 free throws during the final two minutes to fend off the rally and ultimately earned a 77-70 victory. 

GAME NOTES
  • Jackson led Gannon in scoring for the fourth consecutive game and 17th time this season with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
  • Phoenix followed with 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
  • Senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) recorded his fourth double-double of the season and 10th of his two-year Golden Knight career with 10 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
  • Webb Jr. completed Gannon's double-digit foursome with a season-high 14 points, a season-high five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 29 minutes off the bench.
  • Gannon shot 39.1 percent (25-64) from the field, 40 percent (2-5) from three-point range and 86.2 percent (25-29) from the free throw line. 
  • Slippery Rock placed three of its five starters in double figures, led by Micah Till's double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Brandon Simmons also had a double dip with 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.
  • Khyree Wooten added 12 points.
  • Slippery Rock shot 46.4 percent (26-56) from the floor, 47.6 percent (10-21) from behind the arc and 47.1 percent (8-17) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon created large advantages in points in the paint (42-26), points off turnovers (30-14), fast break points (14-0) and bench points (26-4).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon advanced to the PSAC Final Four for the fourth time in the last five years.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 5-2 all-time during PSAC quarterfinal action, including a 3-1 mark against Slippery Rock.
  • Gannon extended its home win streak to 14 games, representing the program's longest home win streak since the Golden Knights won 18 straight from December 22, 2007-January 3, 2009.
  • The Golden Knights defeated the Rock for the eighth consecutive time at the Hammermill Center, improving to 21-5 in the series at home.
  • Gannon out-rebounded their opponent for the 10th consecutive game and 27th time in 29 games.
  • Entering the game No. 1 among NCAA Division II programs in total rebounds per game (47.04) and offensive rebounds per game (17.18), Slippery Rock was held to 34 total rebounds and nine offensive rebounds.
  • The Rock ranks second nationally with a plus-12 rebounding margin, but was out-rebounded by eight.
  • Jackson reached double digits in scoring for the 11th consecutive game while Phoenix did so for the seventh straight contest. 
  • Gannon improved to 15-3 in the months of January and February.
  • The Golden Knights were ranked 10th for the second consecutive week in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released Wednesday afternoon.
  • Gannon had single-digit turnovers in a game for the seventh time this season.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 15-2 when leading at halftime and 17-2 when scoring at least 70 points.
  • Gannon is now 9-1 all-time in PSAC Tournament home games.
  • The Golden Knights won their sixth consecutive postseason home game dating back to the 2012-13 season.
  • Gannon extended its overall win streak to seven.
  • The Golden Knights won for the third time this season when hitting two three-pointers or less.
  • Gannon's five three-point attempts were its fewest since taking five during a 59-57 overtime win at California (Pa.) on February 21, 2015.
  • The Golden Knights made 25 free throws for the first time since hitting 27 during a 78-73 overtime victory at Mercyhurst on January 18, 2017.
  • Gannon reached double digits in steals for the fourth time this season.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 15-9 all-time in postseason games under head coach John T. Reilly.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon gets two days to prepare for Shippensburg in the PSAC Final Four hosted by East Stroudsburg.
  • The conference semifinal contest is scheduled for Saturday, March 3 at 1 p.m.
  • Gannon suffered its first-ever loss to Shippensburg in 10 games on December 2, falling 65-48 on the road.
  • The Golden Knights are 6-0 in the all-time series at home and 3-1 on the road.
  • Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs on a neutral floor.
  • The second PSAC semifinal game pits Edinboro against host East Stroudsburg at 3:30 p.m.
  • Sunday's PSAC championship contest is slated for 3 p.m.
  • The Gannon-Shippensburg game can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • A live video broadcast and live gameday statistics will be available with direct links to be announced.
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Players Mentioned

Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

G
6' 0"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Damon Miraud

#23 Damon Miraud

G/F
6' 5"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

F
6' 9"
Junior
Marketing
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

G
6' 3"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Cyril Ogbuagu

#15 Cyril Ogbuagu

F
6' 6"
Freshman
Business
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

6' 0"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G
Damon Miraud

#23 Damon Miraud

6' 5"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G/F
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

6' 9"
Junior
Marketing
F
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

6' 3"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G
Cyril Ogbuagu

#15 Cyril Ogbuagu

6' 6"
Freshman
Business
F
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
G