Zay Jackson
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Zay Jackson hit three free throws with two seconds left in regulation to force overtime en route to a 110-104 victory against Clarion.
104
Clarion CLAR-M 5-11, 3-8 PSAC
110
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 10-5, 8-3 PSAC
Clarion CLAR-M
5-11, 3-8 PSAC
104
Final
110
Gannon University GAN-M
10-5, 8-3 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Clarion CLAR-M 40 38 14 12 104
Gannon University GAN-M 39 39 14 18 110

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at Mercyhurst University

1/18/2017 | 7:30 PM

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Jan. 18 (Wed) / 7:30 PM
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Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Wins Fourth Overtime Decision in Last Five Games; Downs Clarion 110-104 (Video)

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 110, Clarion 104 (2 ot)
  • Records: Gannon (10-5, 8-3 PSAC), Clarion (5-11, 3-8 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center (Gary Miller Court)
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team used extra minutes for the fourth time in five games to extend its season-high win streak to five Saturday afternoon with a 110-104 double-overtime victory against Clarion at the Hammermill Center. In the process, the Golden Knights posted their 18th consecutive win against the Golden Eagles at home.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon looked like it would blow Clarion out of the arena early, racing out to a 29-13 lead midway through the first half.
  • Tied at five, the Golden Knights generated a 24-8 run over the span of seven minutes and 19 seconds. Freshman Jimmy Berger (Medina, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) had 11 of those points, aided by three triples. Sophomore Evan Phoenix (Stevensville, Md./Calvert Hall)'s third basket of the run gave the home squad a 16-point lead, forcing the Golden Eagles to call time-out with 10:09 left in the first half.
  • Clarion stormed out of the time-out with a 14-6 blitz that cut the deficit in half.
  • Gannon still held a 37-32 lead late in the first half, before Clarion ended the period with an 8-2 run. A 60-foot heave by Clarion's Cameron Grumley at the buzzer went down to give the visitors a 40-39 advantage at the break. It was the Golden Eagles' first lead of the afternoon.
  • The two teams flipped roles in the second half with Clarion opening the stanza on 14-4 run. Grumley's jumper at the 15:43 mark produced the Golden Eagles' biggest lead of the afternoon at 54-43.
  • Gannon responded with a 10-2 run sparked by five points from junior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) including an old-fashion three-point play.
  • Back-to-back lay-ups from senior Matthew Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) and Phoenix brought the Golden Knights even at 60 with exactly 10 minutes remaining.
  • Gannon later snapped a 65-65 tie with a 9-2 rally. Berger ignited the run with a basket while being fouled. His lay-up at the 5:52 mark gave the home squad a 74-67 edge.
  • However, Clarion counter-punched yet again and forged back ahead with an 11-2 run. The Golden Eagles snapped a 75-75 tie with two Jamani Pierce free throws at the 1:21 mark. The visitors had a chance to put the game away, but only hit one of two free throws with 14 ticks left to keep the difference at 78-75.
  • Junior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) was then fouled attempting a game-tying three-pointer with two seconds left and calmly sank the first two. After Clarion called a time-out to ice Jackson, he drained the third free throw to force overtime.
  • Trailing 86-85 in overtime, Gannon scored six consecutive points to assume a 91-86 advantage with 19 seconds left. Miraud, Phoenix and Dogan accounted for two points each.
  • Clarion hit a three-pointer six seconds later, before Gannon was unable to close out the game when it hit 1-of-2 free throws with nine seconds left. The Golden Eagles took advantage and Kwame Morton Jr. canned a game-tying three-pointer with two seconds left.
  • Gannon finally took control and didn't let go during the second overtime period. Trailing 95-94, the Golden Knights produced seven straight points to grab a lead they would never relinquish.
  • Phoenix gave Gannon the lead back with an old-fashion three-point play, before Miraud converted a pair of lay-ups for a 104-97 lead with 1:40 remaining.
  • Clarion was unable to get closer than four points the rest of the way as Gannon brought the curtain down on a 110-104 double-overtime victory.

GAME NOTES
  • All five Gannon starters scored at least 17 points.
  • Jackson led all scorers on both sides with 24 points, aided by four three-pointers. 
  • Dogan nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points, a career-high 10 assists and seven rebounds. He settled for his fourth double-double of the season.
  • Phoenix also had 23 points to go along with seven rebounds.
  • Berger produced a career-high 21 points and six assists, surpassing his previous career-high in the first half alone with 16 points.
  • Miraud completed the group of five double-digit scorers with his second double-double. He finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
  • Gannon shot 53.3 percent (40-75) from the field, including a red-hot 64.3 percent (9-14) clip during the two overtime periods. The Golden Knights shot 37.5 percent (9-24) from three-point range and 77.8 percent (21-27) from the free throw line.
  • Clarion placed six players in double digits, including two off the bench.
  • Pierce topped the Golden Eagles with 24 points.
  • Crumley and Justin Grant chipped in 22 and 17 points, respectively.
  • Clarion shot 55.1 percent (38-69) from the floor, 56.3 percent (18-32) from behind the arc and 62.5 percent (10-16) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon out-rebounded Clarion 42-28, including a 17-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
  • The Golden Knights produced a 54-26 scoring edge in the paint.
  • The contest included 10 ties and 10 lead changes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon won its season-high fifth consecutive game, representing the program's longest win streak since winning eight straight (Feb. 11-March 8, 2015) en route to the PSAC Championship.
  • The Golden Knights played overtime for the fourth time in the last five games. It ties a program record for most overtime games in the same season. The 1987-88, 2011-12 and 2014-15 teams also played four overtime contests.
  • Gannon improved to 10-1 this season when reaching the 70-point plateau and 59-4 all-time under head coach John T. Reilly when scoring at least 80 points. The program is 112-8 when producing at least 80 points during the last 14 seasons.
  • The Golden Knights defeated Clarion for the 18th consecutive time at the Hammermill Center, improving to 24-3 at home in the all-time series. The Golden Eagles' last win at the 'Mill came via an 83-80 decision in the 1981 Porreco Cup Championship Game.
  • The 214 combined points represents the second-highest scoring game involving Gannon. It fell six points shy of the record set during the Golden Knights' 111-109 double-overtime victory at Alliance on January 20, 1971.
  • Gannon had all five starters play at least 45 minutes. The bench accounted for only 11 minutes and two points.
  • The Golden Knights scored 100 points in multiple games for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
  • Gannon's 40 field goals were its most since making 41 during a 94-62 victory against Malone in the 2011 Porreco Cup semifinals.
  • The Golden Knights' 27 assists were their most since having 27 during the same Malone game.
  • Gannon shot 50 percent or better for the sixth time in the last 10 games.
  • The Golden Knights' 110 points were their most since a 126-50 home victory against Penn State Greater Allegheny on November 27, 2007.
  • Gannon has out-rebounded five consecutive opponents, including the last three by 14 or more.
  • The Golden Knights have reached the 80-point plateau 10 times during the first 15 games. They did so only three times last season and it represents the most in a season since the 2011-12 team accomplished the feat 14 times.

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 20 games evenly during the last 10 years.
  • Mercyhurst has won four of its last six games played at the Hammermill Center, but remains 9-27 all-time in downtown Erie.
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Players Mentioned

Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

G
6' 7"
Senior
Physician Assistant
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
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

F
6' 9"
Sophomore
Marketing

Players Mentioned

Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

6' 7"
Senior
Physician Assistant
G
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
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

6' 9"
Sophomore
Marketing
F