Gannon Golden Knights
Joe Mattis
The Gannon men's basketball team looks to win on Cal's home floor for the third time in four years.

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Returns to PSAC West Action Wednesday at California (Pa.) (Video/Game Notes)



GAME DAY CENTRAL
  • When: Wednesday, January 13, 2016
  • Where: California, Pa.
  • Arena: Convocation Center (6,500)
  • Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Radio: Jet Radio 1400
  • Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
  • Live Webcast (FREE): Click Here
  • Live Stats: Click Here

GAME INFORMATION
  • 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. 
  • Parking: Click Here
  • Directions: To Convocation Center I GPS Address: 250 University Avenue, California, Pa. 15419

GAME COVERAGE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 14-12
  • First Meeting: January 6, 1950 - at Gannon 54, California (Pa.) 47
  • Last Meeting: February 21, 2015 - Gannon 59, at California (Pa.) 57 (ot)
  • Series Notes: Gannon and California (Pa.) have split the last two season series. The Golden Knights hold a 14-12 edge in the all-time series, but are only 3-8 on the Vulcans' home floor. However, Gannon has won two of its last three games at Cal, including a 59-57 overtime victory that clinched the PSAC Western Division last season.

OTHER LINKS
LAST TIME OUT
  • Gannon hit six consecutive three-pointers en route to a total of 11 in the first half and rolled Mansfield 80-67 last Wednesday at the Hammermill Center.
  • Junior Kevin Kuteyi (Lanham, Md./Duval) hit five straight triples while scoring a team-high 25 points.
  • Freshman C.J. Asuncion-Byrd (Greenwich, Conn./St. Thomas More) posted a season-best 19 points.

GANNON STORYLINES
  • Gannon returns from its first PSAC bye date Wednesday night at California (Pa.).
  • The Golden Knights have been idle for one week since their 80-67 home victory against Mansfield on January 6.
  • Gannon's streak of three consecutive PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Week awards came to an end this week despite Asuncion-Byrd torching the nets for a season-high 19 points during the team's only action last week against Mansfield. Ian Gardener (Norwalk, Conn./St. Thomas More) had captured the previous two (Dec. 21 and Jan. 4) after Max Kerr (Erie, Pa./McDowell) earned the honor on December 14.
  • The Golden Knights rank fourth among PSAC programs in free throw percentage (72.6).
  • Gannon's 13 contests have included 55 ties and 60 lead changes.
  • Kuteyi has reached double digits in scoring during the last six games, giving him nine double-digit performances this season.
  • Asuncion-Byrd scored a season-high 19 points last Wednesday against Mansfield, aided by a season-best five three-pointers. He shattered his previous season-high of six points at Kutztown. Asuncion-Byrd scored eight points during his first four career games, before setting season-highs in points and three-pointers against Mansfield.
  • Junior Marcus Jones (Brantford, Ontario/Athlete Institute) tied a career-high with seven assists compared to only one turnover in 20 minutes while junior Emmanuel Matey (Lanham, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) hauled down a career-high nine rebounds against the Mountaineers.
  • Gannon's 12 three-pointers against Mansfield represented the program's most since hitting 12 during an 88-58 victory against Kutztown on January 3, 2009.
  • The Golden Knights' 11 three-pointers during the first half were the program's most in a half since at least the 2001-02 campaign.
  • New leaders have stepped up this year following the graduation of Gannon's top five scorers. The squad returned only 18 percent (364-2,026) of its total scoring from a year ago.
  • Gannon was predicted to finish fourth in the PSAC Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll. The Golden Knights have won back-to-back PSAC Western Division regular-season championships and won their second PSAC Tournament title since joining the league in 2008-09 last year.
  • The Golden Knights entered the 2015-16 season 12th among all NCAA Division II programs in all-time winning percentage, beginning the season with a 1,207-670 (64.3 percent) record in 71 seasons. More recently, Gannon was 27th among Division II programs with a .693 winning percentage (203-90) during the 2000s.
  • Reilly entered the 2015-16 season 32nd among active NCAA Division II coaches in career victories (416) and 53rd in career winning percentage (.625). He became the 30th active NCAA Division II coach to record 400 career wins December 17, 2014 against West Chester. Reilly recorded his 180th victory at Gannon February 21 at California (Pa.), becoming the program's all-time winningest coach.
  • Gannon recorded its third consecutive 20-win season last season, finishing 23-9 overall. The victory total represented the program's most since the 2008-09 Elite Eight team went 30-4.
  • The Golden Knights won eight consecutive games and 12 of 13 during last season's stretch run. The squad was 6-1 in February, solidifying its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 24th in program history.
  • Gannon finished as the country's top-ranked defensive unit last season, allowing 56.6 points per game.

CALIFORNIA (Pa.) STORYLINES
  • California (Pa.) rides a three-game losing streak into Wednesday's contest.
  • The Vulcans have dropped back-to-back home games, falling to 3-5 at the Convocation Center.
  • California (Pa.) has committed the fewest fouls of any PSAC team.
  • Sophomore Luka Andjusic is second among PSAC players in three-pointers made (36) and attempted (93).

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns home Saturday, January 16 to host Seton Hill at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
  • It will be the final Saturday night home game of the season. The Golden Knights will host a Saturday afternoon doubleheader on January 23, before playing their final four regular-season games on Wednesdays.
  • Saturday's Gannon-Seton Hill contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series against Seton Hill 5-3, winning the last three match-ups.
  • The Golden Knights have won the last two encounters at the Hammermill Center where they hold a 4-2 advantage against the Griffins.
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Players Mentioned

Isaiah Eisendorf

#2 Isaiah Eisendorf

F
6' 6"
Sophomore
Psychology
Marcus Jones

#21 Marcus Jones

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Psychology
Jean Yves Toupane

#24 Jean Yves Toupane

G/F
6' 7"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
Ian Gardener

#0 Ian Gardener

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Undecided
Emmanuel Matey

#1 Emmanuel Matey

G
5' 10"
Junior
Accounting
C.J. Asuncion-Byrd

#3 C.J. Asuncion-Byrd

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Business
Kevin Kuteyi

#5 Kevin Kuteyi

G
6' 1"
Junior
Sports Management
Max Kerr

#25 Max Kerr

G
5' 10"
Freshman
History

Players Mentioned

Isaiah Eisendorf

#2 Isaiah Eisendorf

6' 6"
Sophomore
Psychology
F
Marcus Jones

#21 Marcus Jones

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Psychology
G
Jean Yves Toupane

#24 Jean Yves Toupane

6' 7"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
G/F
Ian Gardener

#0 Ian Gardener

6' 4"
Freshman
Undecided
G
Emmanuel Matey

#1 Emmanuel Matey

5' 10"
Junior
Accounting
G
C.J. Asuncion-Byrd

#3 C.J. Asuncion-Byrd

6' 3"
Freshman
Business
G
Kevin Kuteyi

#5 Kevin Kuteyi

6' 1"
Junior
Sports Management
G
Max Kerr

#25 Max Kerr

5' 10"
Freshman
History
G