Porreco Pride of Erie Game Champions
Joe Mattis
Gannon retained possession of the Porreco Pride of Erie Game trophy after completing a season sweep of Mercyhurst.
76
Mercyhurst MER-M 13-13,11-11 PSAC
82
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 17-9, 15-7 PSAC
Mercyhurst MER-M
13-13,11-11 PSAC
76
Final
82
Gannon University GAN-M
17-9, 15-7 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercyhurst MER-M 34 42 76
Gannon University GAN-M 34 48 82

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University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

3/1/2017 | 7:30 PM

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Mar. 01 (Wed) / 7:30 PM
 University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Defends Porreco Pride of Erie Game Trophy with 82-76 Victory Against Mercyhurst (Video/Photos)

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 82, Mercyhurst 76
  • Records: Gannon (17-9, 15-7 PSAC), Mercyhurst (13-13, 11-11 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center (Gary Miller Court)
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team overcame an eight-point second-half deficit by shooting 55 percent during the final 20 minutes and retained possession of the Porreco Pride of Erie Game trophy with an 82-76 victory against rival Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both teams at the Hammermill Center.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon generated the initial surge with 12 of the game's first 19 points. Three-pointers from junior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) and senior Matthew Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) gave the Golden Knights a 12-7 lead with four minutes and 10 seconds expired.
  • Six straight points from Mercyhurst moments later pushed the Lakers in front 15-14 at the 13:06 mark.
  • It was the start of five lead changes during the next three minutes and eight seconds.
  • A mini 7-1 run turned a two-point Gannon lead into a 25-21 Mercyhurst advantage at the 8:43 mark.
  • Mercyhurst held a four-point lead three times during the next one minute and 43 seconds.
  • Gannon countered with eight consecutive points to flip-flop a four-point deficit into a four-point advantage. Dogan scored four of the eight points, before a lay-up by sophomore Ian Gardener (Norwalk, Conn./St. Thomas More) gave the Golden Knights a 33-29 lead with 3:47 showing on the clock.
  • Trailing 34-31, Mercyhurst used a free throw and jumper at the buzzer to forge a 34-34 deadlock at the intermission.
  • The visitors appeared to take control at the beginning of the second half as Malcolm Walters and Durrell McDonald hit back-to-back three-pointers.
  • A dunk by McDonald and lay-up by Lorenzo Collier pushed the Lakers' advantage to 44-37 at the 15:32 mark. 
  • Mercyhurst's biggest lead of the afternoon came at 49-41 following a lay-up by DaJuan Dent with 13:30 remaining.
  • Gannon slowly chipped away at the difference, clawing within two points on three occasions until reclaiming the lead with 4:48 to play.
  • Trailing 60-56, the Golden Knights ripped off a deciding 12-2 run over the span of three minutes and 21 seconds.
  • Jackson ignited the run with a three-pointer, before Dogan scored six of the next 10 Gannon points. After sophomore Evan Phoenix (Stevensville, Md./Calvert Hall) converted an old-fashion three-point play, Dogan did the same after scoring on a lay-up while being fouled. The blitz gave the Golden Knights a 68-62 lead with 4:11 remaining.
  • Mercyhurst was able to get within two points on three different occasions during the final two minutes and 10 seconds, but was never able to draw even.
  • After cutting the deficit to 76-74, the Lakers fouled Mercyhurst North East product Gerrell Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview) who calmly sank both free throws.
  • Eleven seconds later, Williams stole the ball at mid-court and finished with a dunk that iced the eventual 82-76 victory.

GAME NOTES
  • Dogan led all scorers on both sides with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes. In the process, he recorded his fifth double-double of the season.
  • Jackson followed with 16 points, including three triple shots.
  • Williams was key off the bench with 12 points and four rebounds during the second half.
  • Phoenix completed the double-digit foursome with 10 points and seven rebounds.
  • Gannon shot 52.7 percent (29-55) from the field, including a red-hot 54.8-percent (17-31) clip during its second-half comeback. The Golden Knights shot 42.9 percent (6-14) from three-point range and 56.3 percent (18-32) from the free throw line.
  • Lorenzo Collier came off the bench to lead Mercyhurst with 24 points in 34 minutes.
  • McDonald and John Majors added 16 and 13 points, respectively. 
  • Mercyhurst shot 48.1 percent (26-54) from the floor, 38.5 percent (5-13) from behind the arc and 76 percent (19-25) from the charity stripe.
  • The Lakers shot 51.7 percent (15-29) during the first half, before the Gannon defense limited them to 44-percent shooting (11-25) during the final 20 minutes.
  • Gannon out-rebounded Mercyhurst 37-28. After being out-rebounded 17-12 during the first half, the Golden Knights had a 25-11 edge during the second half.
  • Saturday's game featured 10 lead changes and four ties.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon retained possession of the Porreco Pride of Erie Game trophy awarded to the winning team during the rivalry's regular-season games.
  • Dogan received the Porreco Pride of Erie "Game Changer Award" given to the student-athlete who had the most impact on the outcome of the game.
  • Saturday represented the regular-season finale for both programs.
  • Gannon honored its three seniors - Marcus Jones (Brantford, Ontario/Athlete Institute), Emmanuel Matey (Lanham, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) and Dogan - during pre-game festivities.
  • Junior Maggie Mitchell and Dogan were also announced as the 16th Annual Rand Garrity Sportsmanship Award winners prior to the game. Aaron Garrity was on hand to present the honor. The award is dedicated after longtime Gannon employee and supporter Rand Garrity, who passed away in the summer of 2001. Rand had taken tickets at the front door for numerous years and spent 20 years as a Gannon employee. He was also one of Gannon's most devoted fans.
  • Gannon honored the four senior members of the Dance Team - Chelsea Cox, Michen Dugan, Lexy Stamler and Danielle Lubak - during a halftime ceremony.
  • Dogan reached double digits in scoring for the 23rd consecutive game, scoring at least 20 points for the third consecutive contest and 10th time this season.
  • Gannon shot 50 percent or better for the fifth consecutive game and 11th time this season.
  • The Golden Knights won for the ninth time this season when either trailing or being tied at halftime.
  • Gannon's five 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 eight consecutive opponents. The squad has produced two eight-game streaks and one of seven games this season. 
  • Gannon completed its second season sweep of Mercyhurst during the last three years.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 52-22 all-time against the Lakers, including a 28-9 edge at the Hammermill Center.
  • Jackson made his 81st three-pointer of the season Saturday afternoon, moving into a tie with Keith Danzy (1993-94) for the seventh-highest single-season total in school history.
  • Freshman Jimmy Berger (Medina, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) moved into Gannon's all-time single-season top 10 in assists with 169, tying Camara Mintz's 2002-03 total.
  • Gannon improved to 12-1 this season when scoring at least 80 points and 78-6 all-time under head coach John T. Reilly.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon enters the PSAC Tournament as the second seed in the Western Division with a first-round bye.
  • The Golden Knights host the winner of Monday's first-round contest between Pitt-Johnstown (West #3 seed) and Seton Hill (West #6 seed) Wednesday, March 1 in the conference quarterfinals at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game time is scheduled for 7:30 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 is 3-1 all-time in PSAC Tournament Quarterfinal home games since joining the conference in 2008-09.
  • The Golden Knights have won their last two quarterfinal home games, Both came against Slippery Rock, 73-69 in double overtime in 2014 and 71-45 in 2015.
  • Any season ticket holder who was not able to renew their seats during Saturday's game will be able to do so Wednesday night when ticket windows open at 6 p.m. Renewals will not be available during the week.
  • Ticket prices are set by the conference office and will be $12 for reserved seating, $10 for general admission and $5 for students not affiliated with the two schools playing in the quarterfinal game.
  • Students at Gannon and the visiting school will be admitted free of charge by showing their school ID at the ticket window on gameday.
  • Questions regarding PSAC Tournament tickets can be directed to the Gannon Athletics Department at (814) 871-7416.
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Players Mentioned

Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

G
6' 7"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Ian Gardener

#0 Ian Gardener

G
6' 4"
Sophomore
Undecided
Marcus Jones

#1 Marcus Jones

G
6' 2"
Senior
Psychology
Emmanuel Matey

#10 Emmanuel Matey

G
5' 10"
Senior
Accounting
Jimmy Berger

#21 Jimmy Berger

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

G
6' 0"
Junior
Criminal Justice
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

F
6' 9"
Sophomore
Marketing
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

G
6' 2"
Junior
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Matthew Dogan

#15 Matthew Dogan

6' 7"
Senior
Physician Assistant
G
Ian Gardener

#0 Ian Gardener

6' 4"
Sophomore
Undecided
G
Marcus Jones

#1 Marcus Jones

6' 2"
Senior
Psychology
G
Emmanuel Matey

#10 Emmanuel Matey

5' 10"
Senior
Accounting
G
Jimmy Berger

#21 Jimmy Berger

6' 2"
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
G
Zay Jackson

#3 Zay Jackson

6' 0"
Junior
Criminal Justice
G
Evan Phoenix

#2 Evan Phoenix

6' 9"
Sophomore
Marketing
F
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

6' 2"
Junior
Criminal Justice
G