ERIE, Pa. - Lake Erie arrived at the Hammermill Center 45 minutes prior to tip-off Monday evening due to the weather and the Storm definitely took some time to heat up. Gannon scored the first 17 points of the game while holding Lake Erie scoreless for the first seven minutes and 27 seconds en route to a 76-51 victory in men's basketball action at the Hammermill Center.

The victory was Gannon's second of the season against Lake Erie, following a 76-56 win in the Gary Miller Classic semifinals. The game also extended three major streaks. The Golden Knights have now won 16 consecutive home games, have out-rebounded their opponents in 21 straight contests, and have won 27 consecutive games when leading at halftime.

Gannon, ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II, used defensive pressure to open the 17-0 lead. The Storm missed its first 11 shots and turned the ball over five times, before Ashland transfer Scott Aston drilled a three-pointer with 12:33 remaining in the half.

Kyle Goldcamp (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and Pierre Howard (Chicago, Ill./Bloom) left no doubt early both would be factors in the game. The duo combined to score 15 of the first 17 points. Howard tallied nine while Goldcamp added six during the early blitz.

Following the early uppercuts, Lake Erie did regain its balance and out-scored Gannon 22-15 over the next eight minutes and 18 seconds. Rick Leasure's three-pointer at the 4:15 mark cut the deficit to 32-22. However, the Golden Knights ended the half with an 8-0 run over the final 1:50. In the process, the Storm missed its last five shots of the half as Gannon went to the break with a 42-24 edge.

Gannon shot 60.6 percent (20-33) from the field and owned a 22-13 advantage on the boards in the first 20 minutes.

The second half was played on even terms for the most part. The Gannon lead hovered between 17 and 23 points until the Golden Knights extended its lead late. Alfonso Scandrett's (Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford) jumper with 2:53 to play gave Gannon its biggest lead of the evening at 74-47.

Goldcamp led the Gannon offensive unit with 27 points and 17 rebounds, posting his 10th career double-double in a Golden Knight uniform. The senior forward set a career-high in rebounds and missed his career-high in scoring by one point. He added four blocks, four steals, and three assists.

Howard, who has reached double digits in every game this season, netted 13 points. Joe Lindsey (Spring Valley, N.Y./Spring Valley) scored nine points while dishing out nine assists compared to only one turnover. He also recorded four steals.

Gannon shot 52.5 percent (32-61) from the field, 23.1 percent (3-13) from three-point range, and 52.9 percent (9-17) from the free throw line.

Leasure led Lake Erie with 11 points. Aston chipped in 10 points off the bench. The Storm shot 32.2 percent (19-59) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-19) from behind the arc, and 58.3 percent (7-12) from the charity stripe.

Gannon remained undefeated at 6-0 with Monday's victory. The Golden Knights are undefeated through six games for the second consecutive season. Lake Erie dropped to 4-11.

Head coach John T. Reilly's squad now heads home for the Christmas break, before returning to action Monday, December 29 by hosting the 35th annual Porreco Cup. Shippensburg (6-1) and Seton Hill (1-5) kick off the semifinal action at 6 p.m. Gannon and Caldwell (N.J.) (5-5) battle at 8 p.m.

For a complete box score from Monday's Gannon-Lake Erie men's basketball game, please click here.