ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team continues its playoff push Saturday, January 19 when it hosts California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. due to the Burger King Classic taking place at the 'Mill Saturday night. The contest can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.
Ticket windows will open at 12 noon. Saturday's contest will be part of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader that begins with the women's teams at 1 p.m. Tickets for the doubleheader 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 (13-3, 7-3) is right back in the thick of the PSAC playoff hunt after missing the last two post-seasons. The Golden Knights are tied with Mercyhurst for third place in the PSAC Western Division. Both teams are one game behind division leaders Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock.
Head coach
John T. Reilly's club has been one of the region's best on the road. The Golden Knights moved to 6-1 away from the Hammermill Center Wednesday night with a convincing 86-63 victory at rival Edinboro. The squad had 21 assists compared to only eight turnovers. It represented the fewest turnovers in game since committing only five during a 94-75 victory against Shippensburg on December 10, 2011.
Algeron Torrence and
Adam Blazek were the stories of the night. Torrence erupted for a career-high 24 points off the bench after entering the game with a 4.6 scoring average. Meanwhile, Blazek returned from an injury that kept him out of action for the last nine games. The sophomore guard recorded 15 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes.
California (Pa.) (6-8, 5-5) brings a deceiving record into Saturday's game. The Vulcans have lost their eight contests by an average of four points, including five setbacks by three points or less.
The latest in a string of tough losses came Wednesday night with a 70-68 setback against 16th-ranked Indiana (Pa.). Midway through the second half, California (Pa.) mounted a 16-0 run over six-plus minutes to take its first lead of the game at 63-61 with 2:23 remaining. IUP answered with six straight points, before a three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 67-66 with 46 seconds left to play. The two teams traded a pair of free throws, before the Crimson Hawks took a 70-68 lead on another freebie. Cal then missed a three-pointer from just across half-court as time expired.
California (Pa.) has turned its fortunes at the Hammermill Center around during recent years. The Vulcans have won back-to-back games at the 'Mill after dropping nine of their first 10 games in the all-time series on the Golden Knights' home floor. Cal earned a 72-70 victory on a game-winning jumper with 45 seconds left in 2010-11 and a 68-67 verdict last season on a three-pointer with nine seconds remaining.
Cal has won five consecutive games against Gannon to tie the all-time series at 10. The Vulcans have swept the last two season series and have won six of eight games against the Golden Knights since Gannon entered the league in 2008-09.
