Gannon Golden Knights
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Time to get excited for Saturday's Pink Zone doubleheader and free admission. Fill the 'Mill with Pink.

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Hosts Clarion During Saturday's Pink Zone Doubleheader; Free Admission to All Fans (Game Notes)

GAME DAY CENTRAL
When: Saturday, January 14
Where: Erie, Pa.
Arena: Hammermill Center - Gary Miller Court (2,800)
Tip-off: 3 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
  • General Admission Ticket Prices: FREE to all fans. Just wear PINK! Donations to help fight cancer will be gladly accepted.
  • Doors: Open at 12 noon. The contest will be part of a PSAC doubleheader that begins with the women's teams at 1 p.m. 
  • Parking: Free on-street parking | Paid parking garage located on Peach Street between 7th and 8th streets
  • Directions: To Hammermill Center I GPS Address: 620 Peach Street, Erie, Pa. 16501

PINK ZONE DOUBLEHEADER
  • Saturday represents Gannon's 10th annual Pink Zone doubleheader.
  • Admission is free, but donations to help fight cancer will be gladly accepted.
  • All fans are asked to wear pink in an effort to Fill the 'Mill with Pink in our fight against cancer. Pink Zone t-shirts will be available for purchase in the front lobby of the Hammermill Center.
  • The event honors and recognizes breast cancer survivors, as well as educates about breast cancer while helping raise funds for breast cancer research and those affected by the disease.
  • The front lobby of the Hammermill Center will be filled with raffles, gift baskets, sponsor tables and much more.
  • The Lady Knights raised $11,000 as a result of last year's Pink Zone.
  • Last year's generated funds stayed local as both Linked by Pink and the American Cancer Society received a check worth $5,500.
  • The first nine Pink Zone games and related fundraising activities have successfully raised $123,109 to join in the fight against breast cancer.

GAME COVERAGE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 35-13
  • First Meeting: January 21, 1949 - Gannon 47, at Clarion 42
  • Last Meeting: February 3, 2016 - at Gannon 71, Clarion 56
  • Series Notes: Gannon has won 18 of its last 20 games played against Clarion to assume a 35-13 lead in the all-time series. The Golden Knights own a 23-3 home record in the series. Clarion has dropped 17 consecutive games at the Hammermill Center since its 83-80 win in the 1981 Porreco Cup Championship Game.

OTHER LINKS
LAST TIME OUT
  • Gannon snapped a halftime tie with 50 second-half points and gave head coach John T. Reilly his 200th victory on the Golden Knights' sideline Wednesday night with an 80-69 win at Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse. Junior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) recorded career-highs in rebounds (22) and assists (7).

GANNON (9-5, 7-3 PSAC) STORYLINES
  • Gannon extended its season-best win streak to four games Wednesday night with an 80-69 victory at Edinboro, concluding a stretch of four games in eight days. It's the program's longest win streak since winning eight straight (Feb. 11-March 8) en route to the 2015 PSAC Championship.
  • Miraud posted career-highs in rebounds (22) and assists (7) to go along with seven points. He became the first Golden Knight to have 22 rebounds in a game since Stan Sligh pulled down 23 during an 80-72 home victory against Wheeling Jesuit on December 19, 1976.
  • Reilly became the second basketball coach - men or women - to win 200 games on the Gannon sidelines. Former women's basketball coach Cleve Wright is the only other coach to reach the plateau, finishing with 233 wins before moving to NCAA Division I Miami (Ohio). Reilly has 432 career victories between Gannon and Brescia (Ky.) University.
  • Gannon improved to 9-1 this season when reaching the 70-point plateau and 58-4 all-time under Reilly when scoring at least 80 points. The program is 111-8 when producing at least 80 points during the last 14 seasons.
  • Freshman Jimmy Berger (Medina, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) has dished out 21 assists and committed only one turnover in 83 minutes during the last two games.
  • Four of Gannon's five starters played all 40 minutes at Edinboro. Sophomore Joe Fustine (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) was the only non-starter to see action off the bench. The starting five played the entire second half without a breather.
  • Gannon scored 50 points during a second half for the first time since having 50 last season at Edinboro on December 16, 2015.
  • The Golden Knights hit 12 three-pointers for the first time since making 12 during an 80-67 home victory against Mansfield on January 6, 2016. It was the most in a road game since making 13 during a 77-55 win at Ashland on February 14, 2008.
  • Gannon 50 rebounds were its most since grabbing 54 against Millersville at home on November 21, 2015. It was the most on the road since having 55 during a 77-73 overtime win at Edinboro on February 8, 2012.
  • The Golden Knights' 25 offensive rebounds were their most since hauling down 25 at Edinboro on November 27, 2006.
  • Reilly's squad has reached the 80-point plateau nine times during the first 14 games. It did so only three times last season and represents the most in a season since the 2011-12 team accomplished the feat 14 times.
  • Gannon has a new look on the floor after replacing its top five scorers from a year ago. However, the Golden Knights returned their next five top scorers from last year's squad.
  • Reilly's club returned only 28 percent (454-1,632) of its total scoring from a year ago.
  • Gannon leads the PSAC in offensive rebounds per game (14.8) and ranks second in rebounding margin (9.0).
  • Miraud ranks second among PSAC players in offensive rebounds per game (3.4), fourth in rebounds per game (9.2) and fourth in defensive rebounds per game (5.9).
  • Berger sits second among conference players in assists per game (7.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3). He is seventh among all NCAA Division II players in assists per game.
  • The Golden Knights were predicted to finish fourth in the PSAC Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll. The program won back-to-back PSAC Western Division regular-season championships in 2013-14 and 2014-15 while winning its second PSAC Tournament title since joining the league in 2008-09 two years ago.
  • Gannon entered the 2016-17 season 10th among all NCAA Division II programs in all-time winning percentage, beginning the season with a 1,214-689 (63.8 percent) record in 72 seasons. More recently, the Golden Knights were 27th among Division II programs with a .693 winning percentage (203-90) during the 2000s.
  • Reilly entered the 2016-17 season 26th among active NCAA Division II coaches in career victories (423) and 61st in career winning percentage (.611). 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.

CLARION (5-10, 3-7 PSAC) STORYLINES
  • Clarion rides a six-game losing streak into Saturday's contest.
  • The Golden Eagles' last victory came December 10 with a 77-70 home decision against Bloomsburg.
  • Clarion is 0-8 away from the Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium this season.
  • Junior Cameron Grumley leads the country in free throw percentage (96.2).

UP NEXT
  • Gannon begins a two-game road swing Wednesday, January 18 with the Porreco Pride of Erie Game at rival Mercyhurst.
  • Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
  • The contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Mercyhurst will look to defend the Porreco Pride of Erie Game trophy which it has held since last year's victory at the Hammermill Center.
  • Also presented after the game will be a "Game Changer Award" given to the student-athlete who had the most impact on the outcome of the contest.
  • The battle for supremacy in Erie will include numerous giveaways, contests and promotions. An announcement with complete details will be release next week.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series 50-22 despite Mercyhurst sweeping last year's season series.
  • The two programs have played a spirited rivalry, splitting the last 20 games evenly during the last 10 years.
  • Mercyhurst has won four of its last six games played at the Hammermill Center, but remain 9-27 all-time in downtown Erie. 
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Players Mentioned

Jean Yves Toupane

#24 Jean Yves Toupane

G/F
6' 7"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

G/F
6' 3"
Sophomore
Business
Jimmy Berger

#21 Jimmy Berger

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

G
6' 0"
Junior
Criminal Justice
Damon Miraud

#23 Damon Miraud

F
6' 5"
Junior
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Jean Yves Toupane

#24 Jean Yves Toupane

6' 7"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
G/F
Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

6' 3"
Sophomore
Business
G/F
Jimmy Berger

#21 Jimmy Berger

6' 2"
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
G
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

6' 0"
Junior
Criminal Justice
G
Damon Miraud

#23 Damon Miraud

6' 5"
Junior
Criminal Justice
F