2017 Gary Miller Classic Championship Team Photo
Joe Mattis
The Gannon men's basketball team won its 18th Gary Miller Classic championship Saturday night with a wild 65-62 victory.
62
Northern Michigan NMU-M 3-3
65
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 4-2
Northern Michigan NMU-M
3-3
62
Final
65
Gannon University GAN-M
4-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Northern Michigan NMU-M 38 24 62
Gannon University GAN-M 32 33 65

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11/29/2017 | 7:00 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 Wild Gary Miller Classic Championship Game Behind Clutch Plays in Final Minute (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 65, Northern Michigan 62
  • Records: Gannon (4-2), Northern Michigan (3-3)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
  • The Short Story: Sophomore Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) hit two go-ahead jumpers during the final minute of regulation to propel the Gannon men's basketball team to a wild 65-62 victory against Northern Michigan Saturday night in the 34th Annual Gary Miller Classic championship game at the Hammermill Center. Phoenix and senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) combined to score 42 points during the finals.

GANNON-NORTHERN MICHIGAN GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
ST. ROSE-WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • It appeared the old Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) rivalry between Gannon and Northern Michigan never died despite the two clubs meeting for the first time in seven years. Neither team was able to grab a lead larger than four points until the final minute of the first half.
  • The opening 20 minutes featured seven ties and seven lead changes. The seventh deadlock came after junior Joe Fustine (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep)'s jumper knotted the contest at 32 with 2:33 left in the first half.
  • Northern Michigan responded with the first sizable run of the half, scoring the final six points to assume a 38-32 lead at the intermission.
  • Trailing 42-39, Gannon surged back in front with seven consecutive points. Phoenix hit a jumper, before senior Jair Green (Williamstown, N.J./Paul VI) gave the Golden Knights a lead with a fast break lay-up while being fouled. He later added two more freebies to cap the run and push the home team's advantage to 46-42 at the 15:31 mark.
  • Gannon grabbed its biggest lead of the evening after a 6-0 mini-run midway through the second half. Jackson sandwiched a Phoenix lay-up between a three-pointer and free throw to give the Golden Knights a 55-48 edge with 8:24 remaining.
  • But the game was far from over. Northern Michigan immediately countered with eight straight points to race back in front 56-55 at the 5:00 mark. It was the first of six lead changes during the final five minutes.
  • Gannon regained the lead on Green's lay-up with 4:00 left, but Northern Michigan scored the next four points to gain a 60-57 advantage with 2:43 to play.
  • Back-to-back jumpers from senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) and Phoenix gave the Golden Knights the lead again at 61-60 with 57 ticks remaining.
  • A pair of free throws with 41 seconds left sent the visitors back in front 62-61, but Phoenix hit a tough left-handed jumper in the paint on Gannon's next possession with 25 seconds remaining to regain the advantage.
  • Jackson then sealed the victory by taking a charge in the paint on Northern Michigan ensuing possession and drained two free throws to ice a 65-62 win.

GAME NOTES
  • Phoenix led all scorers on both sides with a season-high 24 points and eight rebounds, hitting 12-of-15 field goal attempts.
  • Jackson followed with 18 points, three rebounds and three assists.
  • Green completed Gannon's group of double-digit scorers with 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds.
  • Gannon shot 53.7 percent (22-41) from the field, including a red-hot 57.1-clip (12-21) during the first half. The Golden Knights shot 14.3 percent (1-7) from three-point range and 74.1 percent (20-27) from the free throw line. 
  • Naba Echols and Eddie Tornes topped the Northern Michigan scoring attack with 12 points each.
  • Sam Taylor chipped in 10 markers.
  • Northern Michigan shot 43.9 percent (25-57) from the floor, 28.6 percent (6-21) from behind the arc and 60 percent (6-10) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon out-rebounded Northern Michigan 31-24.
  • The contest featured 14 lead changes and eight ties.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon captured its 18th Gary Miller Classic championship, but first since 2012.
  • The Golden Knights have won six titles during the last 12 years and 12 during the last 19 tournaments.
  • Gannon was playing in its third consecutive Gary Miller Classic championship game.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 48-14 all-time in the Thanksgiving Tournament.
  • Gannon and Northern Michigan were meeting for the first time since the 2010 Gary Miller Classic finals. The Golden Knights won that contest 79-68.
  • The two clubs used to battle on a yearly basis when both were members of the GLIAC. Northern Michigan remains a longtime member of the conference while the Golden Knights left in 2008 to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
  • Gannon evened the all-time series against Northern Michigan at eight while improving to 6-3 against the Wildcats on Gary Miller Court.
  • Phoenix was named Gary Miller Classic Most Outstanding Player after recording 40 points and 15 rebounds in two games, including a pair of go-ahead baskets during the final minute of Saturday's championship game. Phoenix shot 64.5 percent (20-31) during the classic.
  • Jackson was also named to the Gary Miller Classic All-Tournament Team after producing 35 points and six assists in two nights.
  • The all-tournament team was completed with Echols (Northern Michigan), Isaiah Johnson (Northern Michigan) and Adam Anderson (St. Rose).
  • Phoenix fell one point shy of his career-high scoring effort.
  • Jackson tied a career-high with 11 free throws made.
  • Gannon has out-rebounded all six opponents this season.
  • The Golden Knights won for the first time in three games this season when trailing at halftime. It was the program's largest halftime deficit during a win since overcoming a 37-30 difference during a 71-66 victory against Slippery Rock at the Hammermill Center on January 23, 2016.
  • Gannon shot over 50 percent for the second consecutive game and third time this season.
  • The Golden Knights won despite making one or zero three-pointers for the second time in two seasons. The squad went 1-of-8 from long range during a 57-54 win against Slippery Rock at the Hammermill Center on January 25.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon begins a tough four-game road swing Wednesday, November 29 at Bowie State.
  • The non-conference affair is scheduled for 7 p.m.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series 4-1, but has never played on Bowie State's home floor.
  • The Golden Knights are 3-1 against the Bulldogs at the Hammermill Center and 1-0 on a neutral floor.
  • The Gannon-Bowie State contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Live gameday statistics will also be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/bowie/mbball.
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Players Mentioned

Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

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

Players Mentioned

Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

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