Evan Phoenix Action Photo
Joe Mattis
Junior Evan Phoenix's 10th career double-double was part of Gannon's 59-37 onslaught on the backboards.
48
Cheyney CHEY-M 0-4, 0-2 PSAC
80
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 2-2, 1-1 PSAC
Cheyney CHEY-M
0-4, 0-2 PSAC
48
Final
80
Gannon University GAN-M
2-2, 1-1 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cheyney CHEY-M 20 28 48
Gannon University GAN-M 40 40 80

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West Virginia Wesleyan College

11/24/2017 | 7:30 PM

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Nov. 24 (Fri) / 7:30 PM
 West Virginia Wesleyan College

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Pounds Cheyney on the Glass; Pulls Away with 80-48 Victory (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 80, Cheyney 48
  • Records: Gannon (2-2, 1-1 PSAC), Cheyney (0-4, 0-2 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
  • The Short Story: Junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) recorded his 10th double-double in 32 career games as a Golden Knight and the Gannon men's basketball team hammered Cheyney on the glass 59-37 while pulling away for an 80-49 victory Sunday afternoon at the Hammermill Center.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The two teams traded punches for the opening nine minutes and 30 seconds with neither team able to grab a lead larger than three points. That time span included three ties and three lead changes.
  • Trailing 9-7, Gannon assumed a lead it would never let go of with back-to-back lay-ups by juniors Daryl Porter (Southfield, Mich./Walled Lake Western) and Kofi Mills (London, England/Martin Van Buren (N.Y.)).
  • A 10-0 blitz moments later pushed the Golden Knights' lead to 23-11 with 7:35 left in the first half. Four different student-athletes scored during the run, topped by a three-pointer and free throw from junior Joe Fustine (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep).
  • Defensively, Gannon held Cheyney without a point for three minutes and 19 seconds during the run.
  • Cheyney managed to cut the deficit to single digits at the 4:14 mark, but Gannon responded with a 14-2 run. 
  • Phoenix had five points during run, including consecutive baskets that ignited the stretch. Senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) also nailed a pair of three-pointers. His long-range dagger with 46 seconds left capped the run and gave the Golden Knights a 37-17 edge.
  • After Cheyney hit a three-pointer, Jackson drilled another triple with three ticks left to send the home squad into the break with a 40-20 advantage.
  • Gannon's lead ballooned into the 30's midway through the second half and reached its high point at 35 points when senior Gerrell Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview)' lay-up gave the Golden Knights a 76-41 edge.
  • Cheyney managed to out-score Gannon 7-4 the rest of the way, before the final horn sounded to signal an 80-48 Golden Knight victory.

GAME NOTES
  • Sunday's contest was the second in as many days for both teams which opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play this weekend.
  • Phoenix and Jackson topped all scorers on both sides with 17 points. Phoenix added a season-high 15 rebounds for a double-dip.
  • Porter completed Gannon's trio of double-digit scorers with a season-high 11 points in 12 minutes off the bench.
  • Senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) was a force on the glass, hauling down 10 rebounds to go along with four points, two assists and two blocks.
  • Gannon shot 42.5 percent (31-73) from the field, 35.3 percent (6-17) from three-point range and 52.2 percent (12-23) from the free throw line. 
  • Kyle Parker was the only Wolf able to get into double figures with 11 points off the bench.
  • Cheyney shot 27.9 percent (17-61) from the floor, 11.8 percent (2-17) from behind the arc and 57.1 percent (12-21) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon out-rebounded Cheyney 59-37, including 22 offensive rebounds.
  • The Golden Knights also created a large 46-22 scoring edge in the paint.
  • All 15 Gannon student-athletes in uniform played and 11 scored.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon has been listed among others receiving votes in the first two Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Atlantic Region Media Polls of the season.
  • The Golden Knights defeated the Wolves for the 11th consecutive time at the Hammermill Center. In all, the squad has won 14 of the last 15 encounters, improving to 20-11 in the all-time series.
  • Phoenix recorded his second double-double of the season and 10th in 32 career games as a Golden Knight.
  • Cheyney has lost 15 straight overall contests dating back to last year and 14 consecutive road games.
  • Gannon improved to 50-14 in its next home game after a home loss during the last 17 seasons.
  • Mills, sophomore Frank Webb Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mount Carmel) and sophomore Matt Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) scored their first points as a Golden Knight Sunday afternoon.
  • Gannon 59 total rebounds were its most since at least the 2001-02 campaign. Year-by-year records are only readily available from 2002-03 to present and there is no single-game rebounding record listed in the Gannon Record Book.
  • The Golden Knights' 22 offensive rebounds were their most since getting 25 during an 80-69 victory at Edinboro on January 11. 
  • Gannon's nine steals were its most since generating 11 during an 81-76 win at Mansfield on January 21.
  • Cheyney's 27.9 field goal percentage was the lowest by a Gannon opponent since Mercyhurst was limited to 26.1 percent (12-46) shooting during a 55-46 win by the Golden Knights at the Hammermill Center on January 31, 2015.
  • The Wolves' 11.8 three-point field goal percentage was the lowest by a Gannon opponent since Le Moyne went 0-6 at the Hammermill Center on November 29, 2013.
  • Cheyney's 57.1 free throw percentage represented the lowest by a Gannon opponent since Clarion had a 56.5-percent showing during a 71-56 Golden Knight victory at the Hammermill Center on February 3, 2016.
  • The Wolves' 48 points were the fewest by a Gannon opponent since Cheyney had that figure last year during an 81-48 home loss to the Golden Knights on November 20, 2016.
  • Gannon's 32-point margin of victory was its best since that 81-48 victory at Cheyney.
  • The Golden Knights' +22 rebounding margin equaled their best since producing a staggering +29 (47-18) during a 78-71 victory at Clarion on February 11, 2015.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon will take a mini-break for the holidays before hosting the 34th Annual Gary Miller Classic scheduled for Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25 at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game times are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. both nights.
  • Friday's semifinals kick off with St. Rose (N.Y.) and Northern Michigan at 5:30 p.m.
  • Gannon will match up with Atlantic Region foe West Virginia Wesleyan in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.
  • The Bobcats lead the all-time series against the Golden Knights 2-1, but the two clubs haven't met since the 2003-04 campaign.
  • West Virginia Wesleyan will make its first appearance at the Hammermill Center since 1995-96.
  • Saturday's consolation and championship contests are slated for 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
  • All Gannon contests can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Outlets to follow all four games include a live video broadcast (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/gannon) and live gameday statistics (http://www.sidearmstats.com/gannon/mbball).
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Players Mentioned

Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

G/F
6' 3"
Junior
Risk Management/Accounting
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
Matt Johnson

#12 Matt Johnson

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
Kofi Mills

#32 Kofi Mills

F
6' 7"
Junior
Communication Arts
Daryl Porter

#0 Daryl Porter

G
6' 1"
Junior
Business Administration
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

6' 3"
Junior
Risk Management/Accounting
G/F
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
Matt Johnson

#12 Matt Johnson

5' 11"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
G
Kofi Mills

#32 Kofi Mills

6' 7"
Junior
Communication Arts
F
Daryl Porter

#0 Daryl Porter

6' 1"
Junior
Business Administration
G
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
G