Box Score

CLARION, Pa. – Adam Blazek's (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) career-high 37 points and Shameel Carty's (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) season-high 15 points helped the Gannon men's basketball team secure a critical 91-80 victory at Clarion Saturday night.

Gannon shot 65.9 percent (29-44) from the field while posting its second consecutive road victory with its postseason hopes on the line. As a result, the Golden Knights moved into a tie with Clarion for fifth place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. However, Gannon now owns the tiebreaker based on its season sweep of the Golden Eagles.  California (Pa.) currently holds down the fourth and final playoff spot with an 11-7 conference record, resulting in a one-game lead over Gannon and Clarion with four games remaining.

The story Saturday night was about a Golden Knight playing his first career game at W.S. Tippin Gymnasium and another who was playing his 44th. Blazek won the match-up of PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year frontrunners with Clarion's Winfield Willis by pouring in 37 points during his first visit to Clarion, equaling the 11th-highest single-game total in school history. The freshman guard became the first Golden Knight to total 37 points in a game since Shelby Chaney netted 37 points against Daemen on December 29, 2005.

Meanwhile, Carty made his first return visit after playing three seasons (2008-10) for the Golden Eagles. The senior guard was held scoreless in the first half, before scorching the nets for 15 points in the second half.

After already being part of 10 games decided by five points or less this season, Gannon used its close-game experience to pull away from Clarion late in the game. The Golden Knights led 71-70 with under five minutes to play when they orchestrated the decisive 13-4 run.

Four different Golden Knights scored during the run that included one of the game's best flurries with Carty and Darrell Blanton (Cleveland, Ohio/Euclid). The Gannon lead stood at 75-72 when Carty scored while being fouled with 2:24 left. He followed with a free throw. Moments later, Blazek stole the ball from Willis and lobbed the ball to Blanton, who brought the Gannon faithful to its feet with a dunk. Blazek added two more free throws to give the Golden Knights a commanding 82-72 advantage with 1:25 remaining.

Clarion was able to cut the deficit to 86-80, but Gannon closed out the game with the final five points for a 91-80 victory.

Gannon seemed to grab complete control with a 14-0 run that gave the visitors a 24-12 lead 7:19 into the contest. Blazek scored 10 of the 14 points, including six points that came on a pair of three-pointers.

However, Clarion slowly chipped away at the lead during the final four minutes of the first half. Gannon still held a 37-28 lead when the Golden Eagles ended the half on an 11-5 run. A jumper from Willis with two seconds showing on the clock sent Gannon to the break with a 42-39 lead.

Neither team could produce a lead larger than three points during the first six minutes of the second half. Clarion grabbed its first lead since the game's opening seconds on two Calvin Edwards free throws at the 15:28 mark. The home squad then held leads of six points (58-52) with 12:13 left and five points (65-60) with 9:38 remaining, before Gannon out-scored Clarion 31-15 in the final nine minutes and 16 seconds.

In addition to Blazek's 37 points and Carty's 15 markers, Blanton completed Gannon's double-digit scorers with 13 points while battling foul trouble all night.

Gannon shot 68.2 percent (15-22) from the field in the first half and 63.6 percent (14-22) during the second half. Its 65.9 percent (29-44) shooting for the game represented the program's highest single-game percentage since hitting 66.0 percent (33-50) during an 87-65 victory against Wayne State (Mich.) on February 7, 2004. The shooting was the program's best performance on the road since at least the 2001-02 campaign.

Head coach John T. Reilly's squad shot 45.5 percent (5-11) from three-point range and 77.8 percent (28-36) from the free throw line.

Leonard Patterson led the Clarion attack with 16 points. Quintus “Bud” Teer recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Willis and Paul McQueen added 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Clarion shot 44.8 percent (30-67) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-19) from behind the arc and 72.2 percent (13-18) from the charity stripe.

Gannon improved to 12-10 overall and 10-8 in the PSAC Western Division with its fifth consecutive victory against the Golden Eagles. Clarion dropped to 14-10 overall and 10-8 in conference action. The Golden Knights return home Wednesday, February 15 against rival Mercyhurst. Game time at the Hammermill Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.