Matthew Dogan
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Senior Matthew Dogan led all scorers on both sides with 22 points, reaching double digits for the 22nd consecutive game.
67
Gannon University GAN-M 16-9, 14-7 PSAC
71
Winner Slippery Rock ROCK-M 13-13, 9-11 PSAC
Gannon University GAN-M
16-9, 14-7 PSAC
67
Final
71
Slippery Rock ROCK-M
13-13, 9-11 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon University GAN-M 35 32 67
Slippery Rock ROCK-M 33 38 71

Next Game:

Mercyhurst University

2/25/2017 | 3:00 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 25 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
 Mercyhurst University

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Comes Up Short in Even Battle At Slippery Rock (Video)

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Slippery Rock 71, Gannon 67
  • Records: Gannon (16-9, 14-7 PSAC), Slippery Rock (13-13, 9-11 PSAC)
  • Location: Slippery Rock, Pa. - Morrow Field House
  • The Short Story: The Slippery Rock men's basketball team used four free throws to snap a 65-65 tie with under one minute to play and held off Gannon 71-67 Saturday afternoon at the Morrow Field House.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • As is typically the norm, Gannon took control early. After Slippery Rock hit an opening three-pointer, the Golden Knights ripped off 11 consecutive points. Three different Golden Knights combined to score during the run which was capped by two baskets from sophomore Evan Phoenix (Stevensville, Md./Calvert Hall) and a three-pointer from senior Matthew Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex).
  • Another triple by Dogan one minute and 13 seconds later gave Gannon its biggest lead of the afternoon at 16-5.
  • The Golden Knights held an 11-point lead on three different occasions over the next four minutes and 24 seconds.
  • Gannon's advantage was still in double digits (27-17) after Dogan converted a lay-up with 5:43 remaining in the first half.
  • Slippery Rock finally found some life with seven consecutive points, cutting the deficit to 27-24 at the 4:15 mark.
  • The Rock got as close as 32-31, before junior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) drilled a three-pointer and the Golden Knights eventually went to the intermission with a 35-33 lead.
  • Slippery Rock tied the contest at 35 with a basket 39 seconds into the second half, but Gannon answered with a lay-up from Phoenix and three-pointer from freshman Jimmy Berger (Medina, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) for a 40-35 advantage.
  • Moments later, Slippery Rock used a 9-0 run that turned the five-point deficit into a four-point lead. 
  • The Rock grabbed its biggest lead at 53-46 following a Tony Gates' jumper with 12:22 to play.
  • Gannon battled back and tied the contest at 55, 57 and 59. However, it was never able to regain the lead as Slippery Rock scored next all three times.
  • The Rock snapped the 59-59 tie with back-to-back three-pointers from Merdic Green.
  • Gannon countered with four free throws from Jackson and a lay-up by freshman Hans Burwitz (Allen, Texas/Allen) to draw even for the fifth time at 65 with 1:15 remaining.
  • As with the previous four ties, Gannon was unable to forge ahead. Green hit a pair of free throws with 50 seconds left to go back in front, 67-65.
  • Gannon had a chance to tie the game again, but misfired on a good look near the rim with 21 ticks left.
  • Slippery Rock then iced the game with four free throws during the final 20 seconds.

GAME NOTES
  • Dogan led all scorers on both sides with 22 points in 39 minutes.
  • Jackson narrowly missed his second double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds.
  • Phoenix completed Gannon's trio of double-digit scorers with 12 points.
  • Gannon shot 52 percent (26-50) from the field, including a red-hot 58.3-percent (14-24) clip during the first half. The Golden Knights shot 58.3 percent (7-12) from three-point range and 72.7 percent (8-11) from the free throw line.
  • Green topped the Slippery Rock scoring attack with 16 points.
  • Christal Malalu followed with 14 points and six rebounds.
  • Khyree Wooten and George Chase added 11 points each.
  • Slippery Rock shot 46.3 percent (25-54) from the floor, 35.7 percent (5-14) from behind the arc and 94.1 percent (16-17) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon out-rebounded Slippery Rock by a slim 29-27 margin.
  • Slippery Rock generated scoring advantages in points off turnovers (21-9) and bench points (17-4).
  • The second half featured five ties and one lead change.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon was unable to capture its third season sweep of Slippery Rock during the last four years after earning a 57-54 victory at the Hammermill Center on January 25.
  • Dogan reached double digits in scoring for the 22nd consecutive game, scoring at least 20 points for the second consecutive contest and ninth time this season.
  • Gannon shot 50 percent or better for the fourth consecutive game, but is only 2-2 in those contests. The squad hit at least 50 percent of its shots for the 10th time this season.
  • The Golden Knights lost for the seventh time this season when either leading or being tied at halftime.
  • Gannon became the first opponent to out-rebound Slippery Rock by at least two rebounds since it produced a 34-23 edge during a 71-66 victory at the Hammermill Center on January 23, 2016. The Rock leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and ranks sixth nationally in rebounding margin (+10.0).
  • The Golden Knights completed their regular-season road schedule with a 7-5 record.
  • Gannon's four consecutive games of 50-percent shooting or better represents its best streak since doing so six straight games from November 28-December 29, 2008.
  • The Golden Knights have out-rebounded seven consecutive opponents. The squad has produced two seven-game streaks and one of eight games this season.
  • Gannon has now played eight games decided by five points or less, winning five of those contests.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon has a bye on Wednesday before concluding the regular season Saturday, February 25 against Mercyhurst at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game time for the Porreco Pride of Erie Game 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.
  • Gannon currently holds possession of the Porreco Pride of Erie trophy after a 78-73 overtime victory at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on January 18. 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 at the time with 18 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 7-of-11 shots.
  • The Golden Knights lead the all-time series 51-22 following their victory earlier this season.
  • The two programs have played a spirited rivalry, splitting 20 games evenly during the previous 10 years.
  • Mercyhurst has won four of the last six games played at the Hammermill Center, but remains 9-27 all-time in downtown Erie.
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Players Mentioned

Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

G
6' 7"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Jimmy Berger

#21 Jimmy Berger

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
Hans Burwitz

#32 Hans Burwitz

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Undeclared
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

G
6' 0"
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
Jimmy Berger

#21 Jimmy Berger

6' 2"
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
G
Hans Burwitz

#32 Hans Burwitz

6' 7"
Freshman
Undeclared
F
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

6' 0"
Junior
Criminal Justice
G
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

6' 9"
Sophomore
Marketing
F