SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team used a 47-18 run during the span of 22 minutes and 38 seconds to overcome an early 11-point deficit and posted a huge 68-61 road victory Wednesday night at Slippery Rock. Wednesday's contest was the first meeting between the two clubs since the Rock's 62-58 overtime win in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals last March at the Hammermill Center.
Gannon's best scoring output of the early season was sparked by a constant in the offensive unit and a surprise off the bench.
Adam Blazek (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) reached the 20-point plateau for the 11th time in his career with a season-high 26 points, including 15 during the second half. Meanwhile,
Rogerio Livramento (Central Falls, R.I./Central Falls) poured in a career-high 17 points in 17 minutes off the bench.
Trailing 19-8 midway through the first half, Gannon grabbed control for the majority of the final 30 minutes.
A'Darius Porter (Stockbridge, Ga./Woodland) ignited the initial rally with back-to-back lay-ups that started a half-ending 22-11 run.
Slippery Rock still held a 28-20 lead, before Gannon produced a 10-2 run during the final three minutes and eight seconds. Following four consecutive points from Livramento, Blazek forged the halftime deadlock with back-to-back lay-ups during the final 90 seconds.
Livramento was the story of the first half. Entering the game with 27 points in 18 career games, the senior forward scored nine points with a perfect 3-for-3 chart from both the field and free throw line.
Gannon led by as many as 18 points during the second half. The Golden Knights snapped a 32-32 tie with a 23-5 run over the span of 10 minutes and two seconds. Blazek accounted for nine of those points. Livramento and
Tee Talley (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) added six points each. Talley's lay-in with 8:27 remaining gave Gannon a 55-37 lead.
Slippery Rock slowly cut into the deficit and never completely faded away. Despite its comeback attempt, the Rock still trailed 63-51 with less than two minutes to play. The home squad climbed within five points after a pair of free throws from Erik Raleigh and a three-pointer from Matej Delinac. SRU cut the deficit to 65-61 with 36 ticks left, but Gannon iced the victory with three free throws during the final 28 seconds.
Blazek led all scorers with 26 points, hitting 8-of-12 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws. The junior guard recorded three steals, moving into seventh place all-time at Gannon with 120 career thefts. Livramento was the only other Golden Knight in double digits with 17 markers, finishing perfect in six field goal attempts and missing only one of six free throw attempts.
Gannon shot 42.1 percent (24-57) from the field, 23.1 percent (3-13) from three-point range and 77.3 percent (17-22) from the free throw line.
Delinic was Slippery Rock's top scorer with 18 points in 18 minutes off the bench before fouling out. NCAA Division I Morehead State transfer Maurice Lewis-Briggs and Kelvin Dixon added 10 points each.
Slippery Rock shot 34.7 percent (17-49) from the floor, 19 percent (4-21) from behind the arc and 79.3 percent (23-29) from the charity stripe. The Rock converted only 6-of-26 field goals and 2-of-14 three-pointers during the second half.
Gannon improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC Western Division with its second consecutive victory. Slippery Rock saw its six-game win streak snapped, dropping to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in divisional play. The two programs have now alternated wins for the last nine games in the all-time series.
Head coach
John T. Reilly's club returns to action Saturday, December 7 against rival Mercyhurst. Game time at the Hammermill Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
