Adam Blazek
Joe Mattis
Senior Adam Blazek recorded a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds while playing all 40 minutes for the fifth consecutive game.
46
Mercyhurst MER 15-6, 12-4 PSAC
55
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 14-7, 13-3 PSAC
Mercyhurst MER
15-6, 12-4 PSAC
46
Final
55
Gannon University GAN-M
14-7, 13-3 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercyhurst MER 21 25 46
Gannon University GAN-M 27 28 55

Next Game:

at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

2/4/2015 | 7:30 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 04 (Wed) / 7:30 PM
at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Wins Battle for PSAC West Supremacy With Victory Against Mercyhurst in Porreco Game (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 55, Mercyhurst 46
  • Records: Gannon (14-7, 13-3 PSAC), Mercyhurst (15-6, 12-4 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team used a stifling defense that held every Mercyhurst player out of double digits in scoring to assume sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with a 55-46 victory Saturday afternoon in front of a jammed-packed Hammermill Center crowd.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon held Mercyhurst without a field goal for the first seven minutes and 35 seconds, but only lead 7-4 after Sean Beins' lay-up with 12:25 left in the first half.
  • Leading 7-5, Gannon ripped off a 13-1 run over the span of four minutes and 24 seconds. Senior Adam Blazek (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and redshirt senior Rich Austin (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) accounted for all 13 points. Blazek netted seven of those points, including a three-pointer that gave the Golden Knights a 20-6 advantage with 7:21 showing on the clock.
  • Mercyhurst answered with its first run of the afternoon, scoring 13 of the next 16 points to close within 23-19 at the 2:12 mark. The Gannon lead eventually sat at 27-21 entering the halftime intermission.
  • The Golden Knights slowly built their lead back into double digits. After Mercyhurst opened the second half with a three-pointer, Gannon generated an 11-2 run to regain control. Four different players scored, before senior Girbran Smith (Nassau, Bahamas/Seton (Ill.) Academy) drained a three-pointer for a 38-26 lead with 11:44 to play.
  • Blazek iced the victory late in the game. With Gannon holding a 47-39 lead, the senior scored on a driving lay-up while being fouled. After hitting the free throw, Blazek nailed a jumper during the Golden Knights' next possession for a 52-39 advantage with 3:16 remaining.

GAME NOTES
  • Mercyhurst's 46 points were the second-fewest by a Gannon opponent this season. The Lakers also hold the top spot during their 46-44 loss against the Golden Knights at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on November 22. 
  • Blazek led Gannon with 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals while playing all 40 minutes for the fifth consecutive game and 14th time this season. He was Gannon's leading scorer for the third consecutive game and eighth time this season.
  • The 19-point scoring output by Blazek was his best since netting 30 points at Cheyney on December 20.
  • Smith was the only other Golden Knight in double digits with 14 points and four rebounds, reaching double digits in scoring for the 13th consecutive game.
  • Gannon shot 48.7 percent (19-39) from the field, 37.5 percent (3-8) from three-point range and 77.8 percent (14-18) from the free throw line.
  • James Ewing was Mercyhurst's leading scorer with eight points and six rebounds as the Lakers had no players in double digits for the first time since a 73-44 loss at the Hammermill Center on February 26, 2009.
  • Mercyhurst shot 26.1 percent (12-46) from the floor, 26.1 percent (6-23) from behind the arc and 64 percent (16-25) from the charity stripe.
  • The Lakers produced the lowest shooting percentage by a Gannon opponent since Cheyney hit 22.6 percent (12-53) of its shots during a 68-41 loss January 8, 2014 at Penn State Behrend's Junker Center.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon moved into sole possession of first place in the PSAC Western Division after Saturday's victory. Mercyhurst dropped one game back while Indiana (Pa.) can remain one-half game behind Gannon with a victory tonight against Seton Hill. 
  • The Golden Knights have the best record among all PSAC teams in both divisions after East Stroudsburg dropped a 61-58 decision at Millersville.
  • Gannon improved to 9-0 against the top four teams in both divisions of the PSAC.
  • The Golden Knights won its third consecutive game against Mercyhurst while sweeping the season series for the first time since 2008-09.
  • Gannon snapped Mercyhurst's six-game win streak, improving to 27-8 all-time against the Lakers at the Hammermill Center.
  • Saturday's announced crowd of 2,504 represented Gannon's largest home crowd since a sold-out crowd witnessed an 84-73 victory against Kutztown in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship on March 17, 2009.
  • Blazek jumped Mitch Smith (1985-88) and into 13th place on Gannon's all-time scoring chart with 1,397 career points.
  • Gannon improved to 8-1 this season and 136-25 all-time under Reilly when leading at halftime.
  • With the top-ranked scoring defense in NCAA Division II, Gannon held its opponent under 60 points for the 14th time this season.
  • Gannon improved to 41-11 in its next home game after a home loss during the last 15 seasons. The Golden Knights fell to California (Pa.) in overtime during their last home game.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon begins an important three-game road swing Wednesday, February 4 at rival Edinboro.
  • Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The women's teams open the conference twinbill at 5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday's entire doubleheader can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Gannon has won three consecutive games against Edinboro and leads the all-time series 65-35.
  • The Golden Knights will attempt to complete their second straight season sweep of the Fighting Scots after posting a 66-48 victory January 10 at the Hammermill Center.
  • Gannon has won three consecutive games at the McComb Fieldhouse where it is 26-21 all-time.
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Players Mentioned

Rich Austin

#23 Rich Austin

F
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Sports Mgt. and Marketing
Adam Blazek

#5 Adam Blazek

G
6' 1"
Senior
Journalism Communications
Girbran Smith

#25 Girbran Smith

G/F
6' 3"
Senior
Comm. Arts

Players Mentioned

Rich Austin

#23 Rich Austin

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Sports Mgt. and Marketing
F
Adam Blazek

#5 Adam Blazek

6' 1"
Senior
Journalism Communications
G
Girbran Smith

#25 Girbran Smith

6' 3"
Senior
Comm. Arts
G/F