Jean Yves Toupane
Joe Mattis
Junior Jean Yves Toupane exploded for a season-high 17 points as Gannon moved into Sunday's PSAC title game with a 69-56 win.
56
Kutztown KUTZ-M 19-12
69
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 22-8
Kutztown KUTZ-M
19-12
56
Final
69
Gannon University GAN-M
22-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Kutztown KUTZ-M 18 38 56
Gannon University GAN-M 32 37 69

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3/8/2015 | 3:30 PM

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Mar. 08 (Sun) / 3:30 PM
 Indiana University of Pennsylvania

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Holds Down Kutztown in PSAC Semifinals; Hosts No. 20 IUP in Sunday's Title Game (Video/Photos)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Event: 2015 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Semifinals
  • Score: at Gannon 69, Kutztown 56
  • Records: Gannon (22-8), Kutztown (19-12)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
  • The Short Story: Junior Jean Yves Toupane's (Dakar, Senegal/Lee (Maine) Academy) season-high 17 points, another dominating effort on the glass and yet another stellar defensive effort helped the Gannon men's basketball team move into the PSAC Championship Game with a 69-56 victory against Kutztown Saturday afternoon at the Hammermill Center.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After a sluggish offensive start for both teams, Gannon took control midway through the first half. Leading 9-7, the Golden Knights ripped off 11 consecutive points.
  • Four different Gannon players scored during the run, including five points from senior Girbran Smith (Nassau, Bahamas/Seton (Ill.) Academy) with a three-pointer and later a jumper that gave the Golden Knights a 20-7 lead with 6:54 to play in the first half.
  • Gannon held Kutztown without a field goal for eight minutes and 31 seconds until Martin Dietrich's lay-up with 2:11 left in the first half.
  • The Gannon lead eventually settled at 32-18 as the teams headed into the halftime intermission.
  • The lead remained in double digits throughout the entire second half. Two free throws by Toupane and a jumper from senior A'Darius Porter (Stockbridge, Ga./Woodland) gave Gannon its biggest lead of the evening at 53-30 with 8:38 to play.
  • Kutztown's smallest deficit the rest of the way was the final 69-56 score after Rell Sherman's three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining.

GAME NOTES
  • Toupane led all scorers on both sides with a season-best 17 points, reaching double digits for the fifth time this season. He added five rebounds, a season-high three assists and a season-high three shots from behind the arc.
  • Senior Adam Blazek (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) followed with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 39 minutes. He reached double digits in scoring for the seventh consecutive game and 24th time this season.
  • Smith completed Gannon's trio of double-digit scorers with 10 points despite playing only 21 minutes due to foul trouble. He reached double digits in scoring for the fifth straight game and 26th time this season.
  • Gannon shot 44.4 percent (24-54) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-13) from three-point range and 80 percent (16-20) from the free throw line.
  • Josh Johnson and Tyler Brooks led the Kutztown offensive attack with 11 points each.
  • The Golden Bears shot 38.6 percent (17-44) from the floor, 18.2 percent (2-11) from behind the arc and 80 percent (20-25) from the charity stripe.
  • Kutztown entered the game as the PSAC's fourth-best scoring offense with 76.2 points per game, but was held to nearly 20 points below its average.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is hosting the PSAC Final Four this weekend for the first time since the 2009 NCAA Division II Elite Eight team did so.
  • The Golden Knights advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2009.
  • Gannon improved to 37-10 all-time in postseason games at the Hammermill Center, including a 22-1 record during the last 23 postseason contests at the 'Mill
  • The Golden Knights held an opponent under 60 points for the 23rd time this season.
  • Gannon extended its season-high win streak to seven games. The squad has won 11 of their last 12 contests.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 15-1 when leading at halftime this season and 143-25 all-time under head coach John T. Reilly.
  • Gannon improved to 11-0 all-time against Kutztown at the Hammermill Center, including a perfect 4-0 mark in postseason contests.
  • The Golden Knights have out-rebounded 18 consecutive opponents.
  • Gannon improved to 8-1 this season in afternoon games.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon and Indiana (Pa.) will meet for the third time this season in the PSAC Championship Game scheduled for Sunday, March 7 at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The contest can be seen live statewide on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) and through a Pay-Per-View PCN Webcast by clicking here.
  • The title bout can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Gannon and Indiana (Pa.) split the season series. The Golden Knights posted a 61-56 overtime victory at the Hammermill Center on December 6, before the Crimson Hawks earned a 64-54 home win on February 7.
  • Ticket windows at the Hammermill Center will open Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
  • Tickets prices set by the PSAC for Sunday's championship game are $12 for reserved seating, $8 for adult general admission and $3 for student general admission. Students at any participating school are once again admitted free of charge with their school ID.
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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
Jean Yves Toupane

#24 Jean Yves Toupane

G/F
6' 7"
Junior
Interdisciplinary Studies

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
Jean Yves Toupane

#24 Jean Yves Toupane

6' 7"
Junior
Interdisciplinary Studies
G/F