Matt Johnson Action Photo
Joe Mattis
The Gannon men's basketball team won't host another game at the Hammermill Center until December 19.

Men's Basketball Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Begins Tough Four-Game Road Swing Wednesday Night at Bowie State (Video/Game Notes)



GAME DAY CENTRAL
  • When: Wednesday, November 29
  • Where: Bowie, Md.
  • Arena: A.C. Jordan Arena (2,200)
  • Tip-off: 7 p.m.
  • Live Radio: Jet Radio 1400
  • Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
  • Live Webcast: None
  • Live Stats: Click Here

GAME INFORMATION
  • General Admission Ticket Prices: $10
  • Ticket Windows: Open at 6 p.m. 
  • Online Ticket Purchase: Click Here
  • Parking: Click Here
  • Directions: To A.C. Jordan Arena I GPS Address: 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715-9465

GAME COVERAGE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 4-1
  • First Meeting: December 28, 1991 - at Gannon 88, Bowie State 72 (Porreco Cup Semifinals)
  • Last Meeting: December 7, 2016 - at Gannon 81, Bowie State 67
  • Series Notes: Gannon has won the last two encounters against Bowie State to increase its lead in the all-time series to 4-1. The Golden Knights will be making their first-ever appearance on the Bulldogs' home  floor. Gannon is 3-1 in the series at the Hammermill Center and 1-0 on a neutral court.

OTHER LINKS
LAST TIME OUT
  • Sophomore Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) converted two go-ahead baskets during the final minute of regulation to propel Gannon to a wild 65-62 victory against Northern Michigan last Saturday night in the 34th Annual Gary Miller Classic championship game at the Hammermill Center.

GANNON (4-2, 1-1 PSAC) STORYLINES
  • Gannon returns to action after winning the 34th Annual Gary Miller Classic last weekend at the Hammermill Center, defeating NCAA Division II Atlantic Region foe West Virginia Wesleyan (78-59) and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponent Northern Michigan (65-62).
  • The Golden Knights captured their 18th Gary Miller Classic championship, but first since 2012.
  • Gannon has won six titles during the last 12 years and 12 during the last 19 tournaments.
  • The Golden Knights were playing in their third consecutive Gary Miller Classic championship game.
  • Gannon 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 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.
  • Senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) was also named to the Gary Miller Classic All-Tournament Team after producing 35 points and six assists in two nights.
  • 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.
  • Gannon has been listed among others receiving votes in three of four Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Atlantic Region Media Polls this season.
  • Gannon returns seven letterwinners and three starters from last year's 18-10 squad.
  • The Golden Knights advanced to the 2017 PSAC Final Four for the third time in four years, before falling to Kutztown (No. 5 in NCAA Division II at the time) 91-85 in overtime.
  • Head coach John T. Reilly's program has qualified for 10 NCAA Division II Tournaments since 2000, pushing its all-time total of NCAA Tournament appearances to 24.
  • The Golden Knights have qualified for the postseason (conference or national tournaments) 27 times during the last 33 seasons, advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight five times.
  • Gannon returns three of its top four scorers from a year ago and four of its top six. Overall, the Golden Knights return 64 percent (1,370-2,152) of their scoring from last year's 18-10 squad.
  • The Golden Knights have won 97 of their last 136 non-conference, regular-season games.
  • Gannon leads the PSAC in three-point field goal percentage defense (22.4), rebounding defense (30.2) and rebounding margin (9.1).
  • Phoenix sits fifth among all PSAC players in rebounds per game (9.2).
  • The Golden Knights were predicted to finish second in the PSAC Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll. Gannon won back-to-back PSAC Western Division regular-season championships in 2014 and 2015. The Golden Knights won their second PSAC Tournament title since joining the league in 2008-09 three seasons ago.
  • Gannon enters the 2017-18 season 15th among all NCAA Division II programs in all-time winning percentage, beginning the season with a 1,232-699 (63.8 percent) record in 73 seasons. More recently, Gannon was 27th among Division II programs with a .693 winning percentage (203-90) during the 2000s.
  • Head coach John T. Reilly enters the 2017-18 season 24th among active NCAA Division II coaches in career victories (441) and 67th in career winning percentage (.613). He became the 30th active NCAA Division II coach to record 400 career wins December 17, 2014 against West Chester. Reilly recorded his 200th victory at Gannon January 11 at Edinboro, becoming the program's first-ever coach to reach 200 wins.

BOWIE STATE (3-4, 1-1 CIAA) STORYLINES
  • Bowie State continues to welcome a challenging schedule every year.
  • After an exhibition at Duke this season, the Bulldogs have already faced nationally-ranked Wheeling Jesuit and Indiana (Pa.) during the opening month.
  • Sophomore Saiquan Jamison leads the CIAA in double-doubles and rebounds.
  • Bowie State qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year after winning the CIAA Tournament with a perfect 4-0 record.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues its tough road stretch with a pair of PSAC crossover games this weekend.
  • The Golden Knights open the weekend trip Saturday, December 2 at No. 19 Shippensburg, before traveling to Kutztown on Sunday, December 3.
  • Game time for both contests is scheduled for 3 p.m.
  • Gannon is a perfect 9-0 all-time against Shippensburg.
  • The Golden Knights are 6-0 in the all-time series at home and 3-0 on the road.
  • Saturday represents Gannon's first appearance at the Heiges Field House since the 2014-15 campaign.
  • 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 Saturday's game at Shippensburg include a live video broadcast (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ship) and live gameday statistics (http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=197628).
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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
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

F
6' 9"
Junior
Marketing

Players Mentioned

Jair Green

#21 Jair Green

6' 4"
Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
G
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

6' 0"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

6' 9"
Junior
Marketing
F