Evan Phoenix
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Junior Evan Phoenix recorded his ninth double-double in 30 games with 16 points and 10 rebounds at Shepherd.
79
Winner Gannon GAN-M 1-1
69
Shepherd SHEPM 0-2
Winner
Gannon GAN-M
1-1
79
Final
69
Shepherd SHEPM
0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GAN-M 37 42 79
Shepherd SHEPM 34 35 69

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West Chester University of Pennsylvania

11/18/2017 | 3:00 PM

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Nov. 18 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
 West Chester University of Pennsylvania

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Pulls Away at Shepherd with Red-Hot Second-Half Shooting

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Gannon 79, at Shepherd 69
  • Records: Gannon (1-1), Shepherd (0-2)
  • Location: Shepherdstown, W.Va. - Butcher Athletic Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team used a 12-0 blitz early in the second half to break open a close game and cruised to a 79-69 victory against Shepherd Saturday night during the second night of the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge hosted by the Rams.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Outside of Shepherd's five-point lead for a little over a minute, neither team was able to grab a lead larger than four points during the first half.
  • Gannon and Shepherd battled through eight lead changes and six ties during the opening 20 minutes.
  • The host team led for the majority of the first half until Gannon scored the final four points of the opening stanza.
  • Trailing 34-32, senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside)'s three-pointer gave Gannon a lead it wouldn't relinquish with 45 seconds showing on the clock.
  • Senior Jair Green (Williamstown, N.J./Paul VI) added two free throws with two seconds remaining, sending the Golden Knights into the break with a 37-34 advantage.
  • The opening five minutes of the second half decided the outcome. Holding a 41-38 lead, Gannon ripped off 12 consecutive points.
  • Jackson ignited the rally with another three-pointer. Senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) followed with a bucket while being fouled. Junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall), Jackson and senior Gerrell Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview) capped the blitz with field goals.
  • In all, Gannon held Shepherd scoreless for three minutes and 28 seconds while assuming a 53-38 lead 4:17 into the second half.
  • The Golden Knights assumed their biggest lead of the evening at 66-48 after Green nailed a triple with 8:49 to play.
  • Shepherd was never able to cut the deficit to single digits the rest of the way before Gannon secured a 79-69 victory.

GAME NOTES
  • The contest was the last of four this weekend at the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge hosted by Shepherd University.
  • Jackson led Gannon in scoring for the fourth consecutive game dating back to last season with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and four three-pointers while playing all 40 minutes.
  • Phoenix followed with his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 7-of-13 field goals.
  • Green completed Gannon's trio of double-digit scorers with a career-high 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
  • Gannon shot 51.6 percent (32-62) from the field, including a red-hot 54.5 percent (18-33) while pulling away in the second half. 
  • The Golden Knights shot 50 percent (6-12) from three-point range and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw line. 
  • Shepherd's AJ Carr paced all scorers with 29 points and five rebounds, converting 12-of-17 field goal attempts.
  • Steffen Davis was the only other Ram in double digits with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
  • Shepherd shot 45.8 percent (27-59) from the floor, 27.3 percent (6-22) from behind the arc and 64.3 percent (9-14) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon out-rebounded Shepherd 38-32.
  • The Golden Knights produced a 28-18 edge in points in the paint and 18-10 difference in points off turnovers.
  • The contest featured eight lead changes and six ties.
  • Both teams combined to make only 17 turnovers.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon gained an opening weekend split after suffering an 81-74 overtime defeat at the hands of No. 19 Wheeling Jesuit during Friday's opening contest. The Cardinals posted an 87-71 win against Bowie State during Saturday's first game.
  • The Golden Knights opened the season away from the Hammermill Center for the sixth time in seven years.
  • Jackson reached the 20-point plateau for the fourth consecutive game dating back to last season, giving him 12 performances of at least 20 points in two years at Gannon.
  • Phoenix recorded his ninth double-double in 30 career games as a Golden Knight.
  • Green has scored 35 points during the first two games after scoring 10 points during his first season at Gannon last year.
  • Gannon posted its first-ever win at Shepherd in its second-ever trip. The squad's only other road game at Shepherd came in 2005-06.
  • The Golden Knights had the same three players in double digits for scoring both nights this weekend.
  • Shepherd's 9-of-14 free throw chart represented the lowest marks by a home team against Gannon since Edinboro went 8-for-8 during an 80-69 loss at the McComb Fieldhouse on January 11.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon has one week off until opening its home schedule Saturday, November 18 against West Chester at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
  • The all-time series is tied 5-5, but West Chester has won five of the last six encounters.
  • Gannon is 4-0 all-time against the Golden Rams at the Hammermill Center, including a 55-54 victory during the last meeting at the 'Mill in 2014-15.
  • Outlets to follow the game include a live video broadcast (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/gannon), live gameday statistics (http://www.sidearmstats.com/gannon/mbball) and live gameday audio (http://www.wergfm.com).
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Players Mentioned

Jair Green

#21 Jair Green

G
6' 4"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

G
6' 0"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Damon Miraud

#23 Damon Miraud

G/F
6' 5"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

F
6' 9"
Junior
Marketing
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

G
6' 3"
Senior
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Jair Green

#21 Jair Green

6' 4"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
G
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

6' 0"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G
Damon Miraud

#23 Damon Miraud

6' 5"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G/F
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

6' 9"
Junior
Marketing
F
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

6' 3"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G