Porreco Pride of Erie Championship Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
The Gannon men's basketball team captured the Porreco Pride of Erie Trophy for the third consecutive game.
52
Mercyhurst MER-M 7-8, 4-7 PSAC
61
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 12-5, 8-3 PSAC
Mercyhurst MER-M
7-8, 4-7 PSAC
52
Final
61
Gannon University GAN-M
12-5, 8-3 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercyhurst MER-M 17 35 52
Gannon University GAN-M 36 25 61

Next Game:

Millersville University

1/20/2018 | 3:00 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 20 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
 Millersville University

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Continues Hold on Porreco Pride of Erie Trophy with Victory Against Mercyhurst (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 61, Mercyhurst 52
  • Records: Gannon (12-5, 8-3 PSAC), Mercyhurst (7-8, 4-7 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center (Gary Miller Court)
  • The Short Story: The Gannon men's basketball team raced out to a 36-17 halftime lead and held off a second-half rally to subdue rival Mercyhurst 61-52 Wednesday night at the Hammermill Center. The victory enabled the Golden Knights to maintain control of the Porreco Pride of Erie Trophy with their third consecutive win in the series. Senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) (14 points, eight rebounds, four assists) 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.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Gannon defensive unit was in synch throughout the entire first half. The Golden Knights held the Lakers without a point for over three minutes to start the game while getting two points each from Miraud and junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall).
  • A quick 5-0 burst gave the home squad an 11-4 advantage with 13:58 left in the first half after Phoenix had three points thanks to a jumper and free throw before senior Jair Green (Williamstown, N.J./Paul VI) scored on a lay-up.
  • A duplicate 5-0 run aided by a three-pointer from senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) and lay-up by Miraud pushed Gannon's lead to 21-8 at the 6:28 mark. It capped a larger 13-4 run over the span of nine minutes and one second.
  • Leading 23-13, the Golden Knights generated a 7-0 blitz. Jackson sandwiched a Miraud lay-up with two free throws and a three-pointer, extending the lead to 30-13 with 2:46 until halftime.
  • Back-to-back lay-ups by Phoenix and redshirt sophomore Frank Webb Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mount Carmel) during the final 44 seconds brought the end to a dominating first half as the Golden Knights went to the locker room with a 36-17 edge.
  • Gannon maintained its lead during the opening five minutes of the second half, but Mercyhurst turned the tables for the next 10 minutes.
  • The Lakers held the Golden Knights without a field goal for five minutes and 49 seconds. In the process, the visitors ripped off a 12-0 run to draw within 40-34 midway through the second half.
  • Arguably the two biggest shots of the night then came from two Gannon reserves. Leading 42-37 and struggling on the offensive end, the Golden Knights got a big three-pointer from freshman Devin Smith (Baltimore, Md./Newtown). Thirty-four seconds later, junior Joe Fustine (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) got a friendly Hammermill Center bounce for another triple to give Gannon breathing room at 48-37.
  • Mercyhurst continued to fight and clawed back within 48-42, but Gannon responded moments later with another 5-0 run the put the game away. Green and Phoenix converted lay-ups followed by a Jackson free throw to push the lead up to 57-45 with 40 seconds left.
  • The Lakers scored seven of the game's final 11 points during the last 25 seconds, before the horn sounded to signal a 61-52 Gannon victory. 

GAME NOTES
  • Miraud received the Porreco Pride of Erie Game Changer Award after recording 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
  • Jackson matched Miraud's scoring output with 14 points.
  • Phoenix recorded his third consecutive double-double, sixth of the season and 12th during his two-year Golden Knight career. He finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
  • Gannon shot 43.2 percent (19-44) from the field, 45.5 percent (5-11) from three-point range and 62.1 percent (18-29) from the free throw line. 
  • Malcolm Walters topped the Mercyhurst scoring chart with 18 points, four rebounds and three steals.
  • Lorenzo Collier was the only other Laker in double digits with 17 points.
  • Mercyhurst shot 35.8 percent (19-53) from the floor, 33.3 percent (6-18) from behind the arc and 53.3 percent (8-15) from the charity stripe.
  • The Golden Knights never trailed during the game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon extended its win streak to eight games, matching its longest win streak since winning eight straight January 3-25, 2017.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 10-1 when leading at halftime.
  • Gannon out-rebounded its opponent for the 10th straight contest and 16th time in 17 games. It marks the first time the program has been the best rebounding team in 10 straight games since January 31-March 7, 2015.
  • The Golden Knights held their opponent under 70 points for the 16th consecutive game. It represents the longest such streak since doing so for 17 games December 3-February 7, 2009.
  • Mercyhurst entered the contest with a 68.3 scoring average, but was held 16.3 points below its norm.
  • Gannon won its third consecutive game against Mercyhurst to improve to 53-22 in the all-time series, including a 29-9 mark at the Hammermill Center.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes a brief two-game homestand Saturday, January 20 against Millersville at the Hammermill Center.
  • The final PSAC crossover contest of the season is scheduled for 3 p.m.
  • Saturday's contest completes a five-game stretch that includes two home games on each side of a road affair.
  • The Gannon-Millersville men's basketball match-up is the second half of the 11th Annual Pink Zone Doubleheader.
  • The event honors and recognizes breast cancer survivors while helping raise funds for breast cancer research and those affected by the disease.
  • The Gannon women's basketball program spearheads the festivities that raised $9,313 as a result of last year's Pink Zone with the funds staying local. The first 10 Pink Zone games and related fundraising activities have successfully raised $132,422 to join in the fight against breast cancer.
  • Admission is free, but donations to help fight cancer are greatly appreciated.
  • An indoor survivor walk will lead up to a ceremonial tip-off on the court prior to the women's game. If you are a survivor and would like to participate, please contact Gannon women's basketball assistant coach Christina Harvey at (814) 871-7657.
  • All survivors, friends and families are invited to be part of the 11th Annual Pink Zone. The event will include a celebration of survivors, raffles and prizes, information tables in the front lobby and official 2018 Pink Zone t-shirts for $10.
  • Millersville has won its last two meetings against Gannon, cutting its deficit in the all-time series to 10-5.
  • The Golden Knights hold a 6-2 advantage against the Marauders at the Hammermill Center.
  • Millersville posted a 75-66 overtime victory during its last trip to the 'Mill in 2015-16. It was the Marauders' first victory on Gannon's home floor since the 1990-91 season.
  • The Gannon-Millersville contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Outlets to follow the game 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
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
Devin Smith

#4 Devin Smith

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Undeclared
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
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
Devin Smith

#4 Devin Smith

6' 2"
Freshman
Undeclared
G
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
G