ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team attempts to follow up arguably its biggest victory of the season with another successful performance Saturday, February 9 at California (Pa.). Please note the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. and can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.
Gannon (18-4, 12-4 PSAC) is fresh off a pulsating 57-55 victory at No. 7 Indiana (Pa.) Wednesday night. The Golden Knights became only the second visiting team to ever win at the Kovalchick Complex. IUP entered the game 11-0 at home this season and 24-1 all-time at the Kovalchick Complex since it opened in 2011. The loss was IUP's first at home since a 64-57 setback against West Virginia Wesleyan on December 18, 2011. It brought an end to a 22-game home win streak.
Head coach
John T. Reilly's club is tied with Slippery Rock for second place in the PSAC Western Division with six regular-season games remaining. Both teams are one game behind division-leading IUP. The top two seeds will receive a PSAC Tournament first-round bye and a conference quarterfinal home game. The West's top seed will own hosting rights throughout the PSAC Tournament.
Gannon was among others receiving votes in the latest National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC)/Division II Coaches' Poll. It marks the first time Golden Knights have been listed in the top-25 release since being among others receiving votes in the 2009 preseason poll.
California (Pa.) (9-11, 8-8) has won three of its last four games after dropping five of its previous six. Quentin Harding's two free throws with 4.8 seconds left gave the Vulcans a 73-72 win at Edinboro Wednesday night. Cal ranks second among PSAC teams in three-point field goal percentage (.381).
Gannon snapped a five-game losing streak against California (Pa.) with an 82-59 victory at the Hammermill Center on January 19, pushing the Golden Knights back in front during the all-time series by an 11-10 count. The Golden Knights haven't won at Cal since the 1954-55 season.
