ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team concludes the home portion of its regular-season schedule Wednesday, February 19 against Clarion at the Hammermill Center. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.
Ticket windows open at 4:30 p.m. The contest will be part of a PSAC doubleheader that begins with the women's teams at 5:30 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. Tickets can also be purchased in advance online at
www.gusportstickets.com.
It will be Senior Night Wednesday as Gannon plans to honor seven student-athletes during the men's pre-game. The warm-up clock will be stopped with seven minutes remaining to begin Senior Night festivities. The women's team will be represented by Doriyon Glass, Jen Papich and Kelley Sundberg. The men's senior class includes
Brandon Emmitt,
Rogerio Livramento,
Jabs Newby and
C.J. Oldham.
Seven senior cheerleaders and dance team members will be honored at halftime. The group includes cheerleader Emily Mottillo along with dance team members Miranda Bender, Hannah Carlson, Jaclyn Hildebrand, Colleen Hyland, Mariah Perry and Hanna Wooley. The dance team is also scheduled to perform following the senior halftime ceremony.
And finally, Gannon fans will once again have the chance to sign up for the Promo Specialties Shootout for Cash with a possible $250 on the line. Fans can sign up in the front lobby throughout the women's game and first half of the men's contest. The shootout will take place during the second media timeout of the men's second half.
Three play dates remain on the PSAC docket. Gannon concludes its schedule with two games this week, before sitting out the final night of action on February 26 with a bye. The Golden Knights can clinch a PSAC Tournament first-round bye and the quarterfinal home game that accompanies it with a victory against Clarion. The squad can earn the PSAC Western Division's top seed with wins during its final two contests against Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown.
Gannon (16-8, 11-3 PSAC West) has already clinched its fourth PSAC Tournament berth during the program's six years in the league and at least a home game in the first round with 10 victories during the last 11 games. The Golden Knights' current five-game win streak is the longest active streak among PSAC teams.
Head coach
John T. Reilly's club finished 5-1 against the top four teams in the PSAC West, including sweeps of Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock. The Golden Knights have produced five victories this season when tied or trailing at halftime. After dropping six of its first seven games decided by five points or less this season, the squad has now been victorious during its last three games decided by that point spread.
The NCAA is scheduled to release the first regional rankings of the season Wednesday, February 19. East Stroudsburg (23-1), West Liberty (21-2) and Indiana (Pa.) (20-3) appear to be locks for the NCAA Tournament. After the top three, there are 17 teams in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region with a loss total between six and nine.
Adam Blazek became the 26th player in school history to score 1,000 career points last Saturday at IUP. The junior guard ranks 25th all-time at Gannon with 1,008 career points, needing 43 to jump past Larry Daly (1966-69) and into 24th place. He can move past Willie Alford (1961-65) and into 23rd place with 57 more points.
Clarion (5-16, 3-10 PSAC West) snapped a three-game losing streak last Saturday with a 91-74 home victory against California (Pa.). The Golden Eagles are 0-9 on the road this season and have lost 19 consecutive road games since a 69-57 win at Kutztown on December 18, 2012. DeMarius Miller was named PSAC Western Division Player of the Week after scoring 57 points in two games against Seton Hill and Cal.
Gannon has won eight consecutive meetings against Clarion and 14 of the last 15 contests in the all-time series. The Golden Knights lead the all-time series 31-12, including a 20-3 advantage at the Hammermill Center. Gannon has won 14 consecutive home games against Clarion. The Golden Eagles' last win at the 'Mill came in the 1981 Porreco Cup championship game.
