ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team opens the home portion of its 2011-12 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule this weekend with a pair of games against Cheyney and Shippensburg at the Hammermill Center. Both games can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.
Gannon kicks off the weekend Friday, December 9 against Cheyney. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Golden Knights then entertain Shippensburg less than 21 hours later on Saturday, December 10. Game time is slated for 4 p.m.
Please note Saturday's special start time of 4 p.m. due to PSAC rules. This weekend's games will be played on Friday and Saturday due to final exams at PSAC institutions next week.
Ticket windows will open one hour prior to the women's contest each day. Fans will be able to purchase tickets Friday beginning at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for non-Gannon students and senior citizens.
All Gannon students are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID at the front door.
Gannon (3-3, 2-2 PSAC) has earned a two-game split during each of the last three weekends. The Golden Knights most recently played a pair of overtime games during a road trip last weekend, winning 98-97 at Millersville and falling 83-79 at West Chester. It represented the program's first back-to-back overtime games since the 2001-02 season.
Five of Gannon's first six games have been decided on the final possession or during an overtime session. Thirteen of Gannon's last 18 games dating back to last season have fallen under those circumstances.
Gannon leads the PSAC in three-point field goal percentage (41.9) and ranks second in scoring offense (82.8). Redshirt junior
Darrell Blanton leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game (4.3). True freshman
Adam Blazek is the league leader in steals per game (2.7).
Cheyney (2-5, 1-3 PSAC) makes its first appearance at the Hammermill Center since a 69-50 loss during the 2009 PSAC semifinals. The Wolves have dropped eight straight games at the 'Mill. The program's last victory on Gannon's home floor came during the 1986 NCAA Division II East Regional.
Cheyney ranks third among PSAC teams in free throw percentage (.772) and three-point field goals per game (6.7).
Shippensburg (4-5, 2-2 PSAC) will attempt to beat Gannon for the first time in school history. The Raiders are 0-5 all-time against the Golden Knights, including an 0-4 slate at the Hammermill Center.
Shippensburg have been red hot, winning four of its last five games. The Raiders will be playing their first road games of the season this weekend after a nine-game homestand.
