Cyril Ogbuagu Action Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
The Gannon men's basketball team ends a two-week lay-off Wednesday night at California (Pa.).

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Opens Delayed Second Semester Wednesday Night at California (Pa.) (Game Notes)

GAME DAY CENTRAL
When: Wednesday, January 3
Where: California, Pa.
Arena: Convocation Center (6,500)
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.
Live Radio: Jet Radio 1400
Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
Live Webcast: Click Here
Live Stats: Click Here
  

GAME INFORMATION
  • Ticket Windows: Open at 4:30 p.m. The contest will be part of a PSAC doubleheader that begins with the women's teams at 5:30 p.m. 
  • Parking: Click Here
  • Directions: To Convocation Center I GPS Address: 250 University Avenue, California, Pa. 15419

GAME COVERAGE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 17-13
  • First Meeting: January 6, 1950 - at Gannon 54, California (Pa.) 47
  • Last Meeting: February 8, 2017 - Gannon 74, at California (Pa.) 67
  • Series Notes: Gannon swept last year's season series against California (Pa.) to extend its current win streak in the all-time series to three. The Golden Knights lead the all-time series 17-13, but are only 4-9 all-time on the Vulcans' home floor. However, Gannon has captured a victory during three of its last five trips to California (Pa.).

OTHER LINKS
LAST TIME OUT
  • With last Saturday's game against Indiana (Pa.) postponed due to weather, Gannon has been idle since an 88-63 non-conference victory against Notre Dame (Ohio) on December 19 at the Hammermill Center. Junior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) poured in a season-high 25 points against the Falcons.

GANNON (6-5, 2-3 PSAC) STORYLINES
  • Gannon returns from a 14-day lay-off that included an NCAA Division II mandated break from December 20-26.
  • The Golden Knights were originally scheduled to return from the break last Saturday against Indiana (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center, but snow and travel conditions forced the game to be postponed to February 12.
  • It represented Gannon's first postponement due to weather since February 6, 2010 at California (Pa.). It was the first postponement of a home game in over a decade.
  • Gannon ended the first semester with an 88-63 victory against Notre Dame (Ohio) at the Hammermill Center on December 19.
  • Jackson hit a season-high five three-pointers to move into Gannon's all-time top 10 with 115 during two seasons as a Golden Knight.
  • Senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) reached double digits in scoring for the fourth consecutive game with a season-high 13 points, five rebounds, a season-high five assists and three steals.
  • Sophomore Matt Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) posted season-highs in assists (5) and rebounds (6) during his third consecutive start at point guard.
  • Freshman Cyril Ogbuagu (Lagos, Nigeria/Riverdale Baptist (Md.)) entered the Notre Dame game with six points this season, before doubling that figure against the Falcons.
  • Gannon scored its most points in a regulation game since an 88-64 win against Mansfield at the Hammermill Center on January 5, 2013.
  • The Golden Knights' 47 first-half points were their most since netting 49 during a 93-88 overtime victory against California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center on January 3.
  • Gannon improved to 5-1 when three Golden Knights reach double digits in scoring and 5-1 when scoring at least 70 points.
  • The Golden Knights hit a season-high eight three-pointers, equaling their combined total from the previous four games.
  • Gannon's 24 assists were its most in a regulation game since having 24 during an 81-55 win against Bloomsburg at the Hammermill Center on January 4, 2013.
  • The Golden Knights recorded 10 steals for the second time in three games.
  • Notre Dame's three free throws were the lowest by a Gannon opponent since Clarion made two at home during a 65-53 loss to the Golden Knights on January 26, 2013.
  • The Falcons' three offensive rebounds were the fewest by a Gannon opponent since Lock Haven had two during an 81-70 Gannon victory at the Hammermill Center on December 3, 2016.
  • Gannon's plus-24 rebounding margin was its largest since out-rebounding Clarion by 29 during a 78-71 road win on February 11, 2015.
  • The Golden Knights out-rebounded their opponent for the 10th time in 11 games.
  • GU out-rebounded its opponent by double digits for the second consecutive game and fourth time this season
  • Gannon returned 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 returned three of its top four scorers from a year ago and four of its top six. Overall, the Golden Knights returned 64 percent (1,370-2,152) of their scoring from last year's 18-10 squad.
  • Jackson enters Wednesday's game at California (Pa.) with 115 career three-pointers in two years, ranking 10th all-time at Gannon. He needs 10 triples to move past Brandon Andrews (2002-04) and into ninth place.
  • The Golden Knights rank second among all NCAA Division II programs in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.1) and seventh in scoring defense (63.0).
  • Gannon tops all PSAC programs in three-point field goal percentage defense and rebounding defense (30.3) while ranking second in scoring defense and rebounding margin (8.7).
  • Junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) sits sixth among all PSAC players in total rebounds per game (8.9) and seventh in offensive rebounds per game (3.1).
  • 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 entered 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 entered 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.

CALIFORNIA (Pa.) (6-6, 2-4 PSAC) STORYLINES
  • California (Pa.) has dropped four of its last five games after starting the season with a 5-2 mark.
  • The Vulcans own an 89-87 victory against Kutztown which currently holds an 8-2 record.
  • Senior Cordell Smith leads the PSAC in three-point field goals per game (3.08).
  • Senior Isaiah Lewis tops all PSAC players in free throws made (54).
  • Senior Terry Davis' 234 points rank second among PSAC players.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes a brief two-game road swing Saturday, January 6 at Pitt-Johnstown.
  • Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
  • Gannon has won four consecutive games against Pitt-Johnstown and 11 of the last 13.
  • The Golden Knights went 3-0 against the Mountain Cats last season, including a 77-67 home victory in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
  • Last year, Gannon forced overtime during a 105-97 regular-season victory at UPJ with a three-pointer at the buzzer and won a regular-season home game 71-70 on a lay-up with nine seconds remaining in regulation.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series against Pitt-Johnstown 21-5, including a 7-1 edge at the UPJ Sports Center.
  • The Gannon-UPJ 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 includes a live video broadcast (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/upj) and live gameday statistics (http://www.sidearmstats.com/upj/mbball).
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Players Mentioned

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
Matt Johnson

#12 Matt Johnson

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
Cyril Ogbuagu

#15 Cyril Ogbuagu

F
6' 6"
Freshman
Business

Players Mentioned

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
Matt Johnson

#12 Matt Johnson

5' 11"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
G
Cyril Ogbuagu

#15 Cyril Ogbuagu

6' 6"
Freshman
Business
F