Girbran Smith
Joe Mattis
Senior Girbran Smith poured in a career-high 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 48 minutes of action.
79
East Stroudsburg ESU-M 5-3, 4-1 PSAC
83
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 6-4, 5-0 PSAC
East Stroudsburg ESU-M
5-3, 4-1 PSAC
79
Final
83
Gannon University GAN-M
6-4, 5-0 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
East Stroudsburg ESU-M 35 29 10 5 79
Gannon University GAN-M 34 30 10 9 83

Next Game:

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

12/17/2014 | 7:30 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Dec. 17 (Wed) / 7:30 PM
 West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Out-Lasts Defending PSAC Champion East Stroudsburg in Double Overtime (Video/Photos)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 83, East Stroudsburg 79 (2 ot)
  • Records: Gannon (6-4, 5-0 PSAC), East Stroudsburg (5-3, 4-1 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team scored the last five points of the second overtime session to out-last defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion East Stroudsburg 83-79 Tuesday night in a wild affair at the Hammermill Center. A vocal crowd witnessed a fierce battle that featured 15 lead changes and 14 ties.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • East Stroudsburg began the game with a 10-4 run during the first four minutes. The Warriors hit four of their first six attempts during the opening run.
  • Gannon responded with six consecutive points, beginning with a lay-up from senior Adam Blazek (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and three-pointer from senior Girbran Smith (Nassau, Bahamas/Seton (Ill.) Academy).
  • East Stroudsburg grabbed a four-point lead on three different occasions during the final 13:19 of the first half, but couldn't stretch its advantage past that mark.
  • Gannon's largest first-half lead came at 26-23 with 5:40 showing on the clock.
  • The first half included seven ties and four lead changes until East Stroudsburg eventually went to the break with a 35-34 advantage.
  • East Stroudsburg appeared to take control early in the second half with a 7-1 run during the opening two minutes and 41 seconds. Two free throws from Matt Tobin gave the Warriors their biggest lead of the evening at 42-35.
  • Gannon answered with eight consecutive points in 93 seconds. Smith started the blitz with a jumper and three-pointer, before Blazek's three-point bomb pushed the Golden Knights back in front, 43-42, with 15:37 to play.
  • East Stroudsburg again grabbed four-point leads on three more occasions only to see Gannon rebound every time.
  • The final 3:09 of regulation saw three ties. A Blazek three-pointer tied the game at 60 with 3:09 remaining. Blazek put Gannon in front with a lay-up during the Golden Knights' next possession., but an East Stroudsburg lay-up tied the contest at the 1:27 mark.
  • Gannon regained the lead when Smith drilled a jumper with 56 ticks left, but ESU's Whis Grant hit a game-tying jumper 15 seconds later.
  • Both teams came up with defensive stops during the final 22 seconds to force overtime tied at 64.
  • Gannon appeared to have the game wrapped up with an 8-1 run during the opening two minutes and 56 seconds of the overtime period. Blazek began the extra session with a lay-up while being fouled and a jumper.
  • Senior A'Darius Porter (Stockbridge, Ga./Woodland) followed with a lay-up, before Blazek hit a free throw to give the Golden Knights a 72-65 lead with 2:04 remaining in overtime.
  • However, East Stroudsburg staged the rallies of all rallies. The Warriors ripped off eight straight points in the span of 14 seconds, turning a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead.
  • The visitors manufactured the rally with a three-pointer, a steal on the in-bounds pass that led to a lay-up and another three-pointer after a Gannon turnover during the ensuing in-bounds play.
  • A pair of free throws by Smith stopped the run with 1:34 to play. Grant then made one of two free throws with 1:18 showing to create the 12th tie of the evening.
  • Much like the end of regulation, both squads came up with defensive stops during the final 29 seconds to force a second overtime tied at 74.
  • The two heavyweights exchanged the lead three times during the opening 3:48 of the second overtime period.
  • A lay-up by Porter gave Gannon the lead for good at 80-79 with 1:12 to play.
  • After a defensive stop, a Blazek free throw pushed the lead to 81-79 with 26 seconds left.
  • On East Stroudsburg's next possession, Grant drove the lane and made the shot after making a jump stop towards the hoop. The basket was waved off as the official called Grant for traveling with five seconds left.
  • Smith added two insurance free throws with four seconds left moments before the final horn sounded, giving Gannon a thrilling 83-79 double-overtime victory.

GAME NOTES
  • The game featured 15 lead changes and 14 ties.
  • Both teams held seven-point leads at one point of the contest.
  • Gannon out-rebounded East Stroudsburg 55-32, representing its largest advantage since out-rebounding Cheyney 52-27 at Penn State Behrend's Junker Center on January 8.
  • The Golden Knights' 55 rebounds were the program's most since having 55 at Edinboro on February 8, 2012.
  • Gannon's 83 points represented its best scoring output since defeating Mansfield 83-57 on December 17, 2013.
  • East Stroudsburg's 79 points were the most by an opponent since Shepherd posted an 85-75 victory at the Hammermill Center on December 13, 2013.
  • Smith led all scorers on both sides with a career-high 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 48 minutes.
  • Blazek reached the 20-point plateau for the third time this season and 22nd time during his career with 22 points in 45 minutes.
  • Senior Raphell Thomas-Edwards (Leicester, England/The Gateway School) recorded his fourth double-double of the season and eighth in two seasons with 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
  • Gannon shot 44.1 percent (30-68) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-17) from three-point range and 60 percent (18-30) from the free throw line.
  • Rasheed Moore and Grant led six East Stroudsburg players in double digits with 13 points each. All five starters scored at least 10 points.
  • The Warriors shot 42 percent (29-69) from the floor, 44.4 percent (12-27) from behind the arc and 60 percent (9-15) from the charity stripe.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon won its fourth straight overtime home game dating back to the 2013-14 campaign. The Golden Knights improved to 10-5 in overtime games under head coach John T. Reilly.
  • Gannon is now 63-36 all-time in overtime games, including a 39-13 mark at the Hammermill Center.
  • Tuesday's contest was Gannon's first double-overtime game since a 73-69 double-overtime victory against Slippery Rock in the PSAC Quarterfinals on March 4. The Golden Knights are 7-5 all-time in games that last at least two extra periods.
  • Gannon extended its win streak to a season-best four games, representing the program's longest since winning eight straight February 1-March 4.
  • The Golden Knights have topped the 60-point plateau in five consecutive games after doing so only once in the first five contests.
  • Gannon is the country's top-ranked defensive unit, entering the game with a 54.7 scoring defense. East Stroudsburg came to Erie averaging 82.3 points per game, but was held to 64 points in regulation time.
  • The Golden Knights snapped a seven-game losing streak to East Stroudsburg while improving to 7-2 against the Warriors at the Hammermill Center. Gannon's last victory against ESU came during the 1998-99 campaign at the 'Mill.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon completes a season-long seven-game homestand Wednesday, December 17 against West Chester at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday's PSAC crossover game can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Gannon continues to prepare for and play games during their finals week. The PSAC had no conference games last week during the state's finals week.
  • West Chester has won its last four games against Gannon to tie the all-time series at four. However, the Golden Rams are 0-3 all-time at the Hammermill Center. Gannon's last victory in the all-time series came at the 'Mill during the 2010-11 campaign.
  • Saturday's contest at Cheyney will represent Gannon's first road game in 27 days.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Adam Blazek

#5 Adam Blazek

G
6' 1"
Senior
Journalism Communications
A

#32 A'Darius Porter

F
6' 7"
Senior
Biology
Girbran Smith

#25 Girbran Smith

G/F
6' 3"
Senior
Comm. Arts
Raphell Thomas-Edwards

#0 Raphell Thomas-Edwards

G/F
6' 6"
Senior
Communication Arts

Players Mentioned

Adam Blazek

#5 Adam Blazek

6' 1"
Senior
Journalism Communications
G
A

#32 A'Darius Porter

6' 7"
Senior
Biology
F
Girbran Smith

#25 Girbran Smith

6' 3"
Senior
Comm. Arts
G/F
Raphell Thomas-Edwards

#0 Raphell Thomas-Edwards

6' 6"
Senior
Communication Arts
G/F