Tony Boykins
Joe Mattis
Gannon looks to complete its first perfect December since going 5-0 during the 2008-09 campaign.

Men's Basketball Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Concludes First Semester with Saturday Road Contest at Cheyney (Game Notes)

GAME DAY CENTRAL
When: Saturday, December 20, 2014
Where: Cheyney, Pa.
Arena: Cope Hall (1,500)
Tip-off: 3 p.m.
  • Live Radio: Jet Radio 1400
  • Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
  • Live Video: None
  • Live Stats: None
  • Tickets: Click Here

GAME INFORMATION
  • General Admission Ticket Prices: $10 adults / $5 Students and Children 5-12 years old
  • Parking: Located in the Airport Lot at the corners of University Drive, South Westown Road and Creek Roads. Parking fee is $5.00
  • Directions: Address: 1837 University Circle, Cheyney, Pa. 19319-0200

GAME COVERAGE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 17-11
  • First Meeting: February 6, 1967 - at Gannon 58, Cheyney 53
  • Last Meeting: January 8, 2014 - Gannon 68, Cheyney 41 (Played at PSU Behrend's Junker Center)
  • Series Notes: Gannon has won its last three games against Cheyney to assume a 17-11 lead in the all-time series. Oddly enough, only two of those contests have been played at Cheyney's Cope Hall. The Golden Knights split those two games, earning an 85-70 victory during their last trip in 2012-13.

OTHER LINKS
LAST TIME OUT
  • Sophomore Matthew Dogan hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:27 remaining and Gannon denied two West Chester shots from close range in the final two seconds to pull off a heart-stopping 55-54 victory against West Chester Wednesday night at the Hammermill Center.

GANNON STORYLINES
  • Gannon returns to the road after completing a season-long seven-game homestand Wednesday night against West Chester. The Golden Knights' last road contest was on November 22 at rival Mercyhurst. The length between road games equals 27 days.
  • Saturday's contest is Gannon's third consecutive PSAC crossover affair. The league crossovers have added importance this season as all will count in the league standings.
  • Gannon's victory against West Chester Wednesday night was Reilly's 400th during his 22nd-year coaching career. He is the 30th active coach in NCAA Division II to reach 400 career victories and the third active Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) head coach to do so.
  • The Golden Knights extended their win streak to a season-best five games, representing the program's longest since winning eight straight February 1-March 4.
  • Gannon is 5-0 this month and can complete its first perfect December since 2008-09 with a victory at Cheyney.
  • Head coach John T. Reilly's club has played the fifth-toughest schedule in NCAA Division II this season, according to the NCAA's latest statistical report released Monday afternoon. Gannon's first nine opponents have produced a combined winning percentage of .714 (45-18). Slippery Rock (28th, .660, 31-16) and East Stroudsburg (55th, .600, 27-18) are the only other two PSAC teams listed in the top 100. Only NCAA Division II opponents count in the report.
  • Gannon is 6-0 in PSAC action for the first time since joining the conference in 2008.
  • The Golden Knights have won their opening six conference games for the first time since winning their first eight contests as a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member in 2007-08.
  • Gannon is the country's top defensive team, allowing 56.8 points per game. The Golden Knights have held nine opponents below 60 points during their first 11 games. Tarleton State is the next best NCAA Division II defensive team, but the Texans are 2.4 points behind the Golden Knights' defensive total.
  • Senior Adam Blazek (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) ranks second all-time at Gannon with 192 career steals. The senior guard needs five steals to break Butch Warner's (1981-85) school record of 196.
  • The Golden Knights were predicted to defend their PSAC Western Division title in the league's preseason coaches poll.
  • Blazek ranks 19th all-time at Gannon with 1,250 career points, needing 10 to jump past Mike Crawford (1988-92) and into 18th place. He can move past Troy Nesmith (1996-98) and into 17th place with 37 more points.
  • Gannon has won five games this season when either tied or trailing at halftime.
  • Six of Gannon's first 11 contests have been decided by five points or less
  • Seniors A'Darius Porter (Stockbridge, Ga./Woodland), senior Raphell Thomas-Edwards (Leicester, England/The Gateway School) and Blazek were named to the six-man Preseason All-PSAC Western Division team.
  • Gannon was listed among others to watch in the Division II Bulletin preseason national rankings. The Golden Knights are tabbed ninth in this weeks D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll.
  • Blazek earned Preseason NCAA Division II All-America honorable-mention accolades from the Sporting News. The publication released a preseason top 10 and preseason All-Americans in its annual Sporting News College Basketball Yearbook.

CHEYNEY STORYLINES
  • Cheyney rides an eight-game losing streak into Saturday's contest.
  • The Wolves' only victory this season was a 69-63 decision against St. Augustine's on November 16.
  • Cheyney has dropped 11 consecutive PSAC games overall and eight straight PSAC home contests dating back to last season.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon has two weeks off before returning to action Saturday, January 3 at Millersville. The Golden Knights conclude a two-game crossover weekend Sunday, January 4 at Shippensburg.
  • Both games are scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400, as well as the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Gannon has won three consecutive games against Millersville to increase its lead in the all-time series to 10-3. The Golden Knights have won two straight contests on the Marauders' home floor, producing a 98-97 victory in 2011-12 and 69-52 verdict in 2012-13.
  • The Peach Street kids have never lost to Shippensburg in seven all-time meetings. The run includes a 5-0 record at the Hammermill Center and 2-0 mark on Ship's home floor.
  • Only one PSAC crossover game remains on the 2014-15 schedule after the trip to Millersville and Shippensburg.
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Players Mentioned

Adam Blazek

#5 Adam Blazek

G
6' 1"
Senior
Journalism Communications
Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

G
6' 7"
Sophomore
Pre-Phy. Asst.
A

#32 A'Darius Porter

F
6' 7"
Senior
Biology
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
Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

6' 7"
Sophomore
Pre-Phy. Asst.
G
A

#32 A'Darius Porter

6' 7"
Senior
Biology
F
Raphell Thomas-Edwards

#0 Raphell Thomas-Edwards

6' 6"
Senior
Communication Arts
G/F