Saturday, February 4, 2012
ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team begins its second tour of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Saturday, February 4 against California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center. The men's contest can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.
Ticket windows for Saturday's PSAC doubleheader open at 4:30 p.m. with the women's game to tip off at 5:30 p.m. The men's contest follows at 7:30 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.
The PSAC Western Division postseason race can't get any closer with seven games remaining in the regular season. Indiana (Pa.) leads the pack with a 13-2 PSAC record, holding a one-game lead over Mercyhurst (12-3). Clarion (10-5) and Slippery Rock (9-6) currently round out the playoff teams in third and fourth place. Gannon, California (Pa.) and Edinboro all sit only one game out of the final playoff spot with 8-7 conference slates.
Gannon (10-9, 8-7 PSAC) has split its last four games after falling to 13th-ranked IUP (59-48) Wednesday night at the Hammermill Center. It was the second consecutive home loss after dropping a 70-63 decision to Slippery Rock on January 25. The Golden Knights have dropped consecutive home games for only the sixth time in the last 13 seasons.
Stephen Battle saw his first action since December 30 Wednesday night against IUP. The sophomore forward nailed a three-pointer from the top of the arc moments after entering the game, but was unable to get off another shot the rest of the way. He played a total of 12 minutes.
Darrell Blanton remains among the PSAC's best in several statistical categories. The junior forward ranks third in field goal percentage (.552), fourth in scoring (18.6), sixth in rebounding (8.5) and ninth in blocked shots per game (1.0).
Gannon will play four of its last six regular-season games on the road after Saturday's battle with Cal. The final two contests will be played at Slippery Rock and IUP, marking only the second time in the last eight years Gannon ended the season on the road.
California (Pa.) (11-10, 8-7) looks to continue its recent mastery of Gannon Saturday night at the Hammermill Center. The Vulcans have won four consecutive games against the Golden Knights, including a 65-59 home victory on January 14. The program had dropped the first six games it ever played at the 'Mill, but has since won two of the last five played in Erie.
The Gannon-Cal games have been low-scoring, defensive affairs during recent years. The winner has failed to reach the 60-point plateau during three of the last five games. The last four contests between the two teams have been decided by six points or less.
California has played its best at home, going 7-4 at the new Cal U Convocation Center. However, the Vulcans are only 4-6 on the road.
Tynell Fortune will be one Vulcan Gannon fans will not want to see at the free throw line. The freshman guard ranks second among PSAC players in free throw percentage, hitting 88.1 percent (59-67) of his attempts.
California (Pa.) has won its games with defense, ranking third among conference teams in scoring defense (67.0). The Vulcans have allowed an average of 62.5 points during their 11 victories. In contrast, the squad is giving up an average of 72 points during its 10 losses.
