Porreco Pride of Erie Game Winner
Joe Mattis
The Gannon men's basketball captured the Porreco Pride of Erie Game trophy with its fifth overtime win of the season.
78
Winner Gannon GAN-M 11-5, 9-3 PSAC
73
Mercyhurst MER-M 7-9, 5-7 PSAC
Winner
Gannon GAN-M
11-5, 9-3 PSAC
78
Final
73
Mercyhurst MER-M
7-9, 5-7 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Gannon GAN-M 37 30 11 78
Mercyhurst MER-M 27 40 6 73

Next Game:

at Mansfield University

1/21/2017 | 3:00 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 21 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
at Mansfield University

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Knocks Off Mercyhurst to Claim Porreco Pride of Erie Game Trophy; Wins Program-Record Fifth Overtime Game

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Gannon 78, at Mercyhurst 73 (ot)
  • Records: Gannon (11-5, 9-3 PSAC), Mercyhurst (7-9, 5-7 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst Athletic Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team gave its fans some free action for a program-record fifth time in six games Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Golden Knights held off a late rally and subdued their rival Lakers 78-73 in overtime to claim hold of the Porreco Pride of Erie Game trophy given to the crosstown rivalry winner.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After the two rivals played on even terms during the opening five minutes, Gannon ripped off 13 consecutive points to turn a one-point deficit into a 23-11 advantage with 8:46 left in the first half. Junior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) scored five straight points during the run, before sophomore Evan Phoenix (Stevensville, Md./Calvert Hall) converted back-to-back lay-ups.
  • Mercyhurst whittled the deficit to single digits five times during the final eight minutes, but Gannon responded by regaining a double-digit lead every time before heading into the halftime locker room with a 37-27 lead.
  • Phoenix scored on the opening possession of the second half as Gannon matched its biggest lead of the evening at 39-27.
  • The Golden Knights' lead sat at 42-32 when the Lakers began the climb back into the game. A 13-3 run over the span of four minutes and 51 seconds created the contest's first tie at 45.
  • A Phoenix lay-up and old-fashioned three-point play by junior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) gave Gannon the lead back at 50-45.
  • Nearly three minutes later, Mercyhurst forged back ahead 55-54 on a pair of free throws by H'ian Hale.
  • Gannon countered with a lay-up by Miraud to move back in front. The play ignited a 7-0 run that included five free throws.
  • The Golden Knights extended the run with a lay-up by senior Matthew Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) and two free throws from Jackson, assuming what seemed to be an insurmountable lead of 67-58 with 2:06 to play. In all, the 13-3 run lasted three minutes and 48 seconds.
  • However, Lorenzo Collier sandwiched a pair of Gannon misses between three triples, tying the contest at 67 with 38 seconds remaining.
  • The Golden Knights had two chances from behind the arc during the final seven seconds, but were unable to get the game-winner en route to another overtime session.
  • Gannon controlled the familiar scene of overtime, beginning with the first four points. Phoenix hit two free throws and Jackson drained a jumper for a 71-67 lead.
  • The Golden Knights held overtime's largest lead at 74-68 following Jackson's lay-up while bring fouled and ensuing free throw at the 2:12 mark.
  • Mercyhurst refused to give in and clawed within one point after a three-pointer and pair of free throws.
  • Phoenix was then able to finish a nice feed from senior Marcus Jones (Brantford, Ontario/Athlete Institute) to push the advantage to 76-73 with 18 ticks showing on the clock.
  • The Lakers missed a shot on their next possession, before freshman Jimmy Berger (Medina, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) iced the 78-73 victory with two free throws.

GAME NOTES
  • Phoenix received the Porreco Pride of Erie Game Changer Award given to the student-athlete who had the most impact on the victory. He recorded his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 7-of-11 shots.
  • Jackson led all scorers on both sides with 20 points in 43 minutes.
  • Dogan and Miraud added 16 and 11 points, respectively.
  • Gannon shot 42.1 percent (24-57) from the field, including a 51.9-percent (14-27) clip during the first half. The Golden Knights shot 21.4 percent (3-14) from three-point range and 84.4 percent (27-32) from the free throw line.
  • Mercyhurst placed four players in double digits, including three off the bench.
  • Collier and Stephen Spurlock topped the Lakers with 16 points each off the bench.
  • Malcolm Walters and DaJuan Dent chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
  • Mercyhurst shot 37.1 percent (23-62) from the floor despite a 50-percent effort (14-28) during its second-half comeback. The Lakers shot 44.4 percent (8-18) from behind the arc and 76 percent (19-25) from the charity stripe.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon won its season-high sixth 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 fifth time in the last six games. It set a program record for most overtime games in the same season. The 1987-88, 2011-12 and 2014-15 teams previously held the record with four overtime contests.
  • Gannon and Dixie State (Ga.) are tied for most overtime games (5) in NCAA Division II this season.
  • The Golden Knights are four overtime games shy of the NCAA Division II record (9) held by Angelo State (Texas) in 2010-11 and Barton (N.C.) in 2006-07. Barton won all nine of its overtime games en route to a national championship that season.
  • Gannon improved to 11-1 this season when reaching the 70-point plateau.
  • The Golden Knights won at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center for the third time during their last four trips, improving to 20-10 all-time on the Lakers' home floor.
  • Gannon's 27 free throws were its most since hitting 29 during a 75-64 victory at Pitt-Johnstown on February 22, 2014.
  • The Golden Knights out-rebounded their sixth consecutive opponent.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes a brief two-game road swing Saturday, January 21 at Mansfield.
  • Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
  • The contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Saturday's contest will be Gannon's final PSAC crossover game of the season.
  • Gannon has won four consecutive games against Mansfield, increasing its lead in the all-time series to 10-6.
  • All four victories have come at the Hammermill Center where the Golden Knights are 9-3 against Mountaineers.
  • Saturday will mark the Golden Knights' first trip to Mansfield since a 76-59 victory on January 11, 2009.
  • Gannon is 1-3 all-time on Mountaineers' home floor.
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Players Mentioned

Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

G
6' 7"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Marcus Jones

#1 Marcus Jones

G
6' 2"
Senior
Psychology
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
Marcus Jones

#1 Marcus Jones

6' 2"
Senior
Psychology
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