Damon Miraud Action Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Senior Damon Miraud reached double digits in scoring for the fifth consecutive game with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
69
Winner Gannon GAN-M 7-5, 3-3 PSAC
66
California (PA) CAL-M 6-7, 2-5 PSAC
Winner
Gannon GAN-M
7-5, 3-3 PSAC
69
Final
66
California (PA) CAL-M
6-7, 2-5 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GAN-M 35 34 69
California (PA) CAL-M 32 34 66

Next Game:

at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

1/6/2018 | 3:00 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 06 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Wins Third Consecutive Game; Holds Cal 20 Points Below Scoring Average

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Gannon 69, at California (Pa.) 66
  • Records: Gannon (7-5, 3-3 PSAC), California (Pa.) (6-7, 2-5 PSAC)
  • Location: California, Pa. - Convocation Center
  • The Short Story: Five Golden Knights reached double digits in scoring and the Gannon defensive unit held California (Pa.) 20 points below its scoring average to win its third consecutive game Wednesday night with a 69-66 road victory at the Cal Convocation Center.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Gannon defense went right to work, holding California (Pa.) scoreless during the opening three minutes and 40 seconds.
  • Meanwhile, the Golden Knights produced the first six points. Senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside), senior Jair Green (Williamstown, N.J./Paul VI) and junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) accounted for the points.
  • California (Pa.) fought back and took its first lead of the evening on Isaiah Lewis' three-pointer at the 11:57 mark, giving the Vulcans a 13-12 advantage.
  • Following ties at 15 and 17, the home squad ripped off eight consecutive points to grab a 25-17 lead with 6:22 left in the first half.
  • The Vulcans generated their biggest lead at 28-19 after Robel Teckle's triple at the 5:31 mark.
  • Gannon responded with 16 of the final 20 points of the half, ignited by a Jackson three-pointer.
  • Jackson and Green scored six points each during the late first-half run. Junior Joe Fustine (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep)'s lay-up off an assist from sophomore Matt Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) with 39 seconds left gave the Golden Knights their first lead since the 12:38 mark.
  • Junior Kofi Mills (London, England/Martin Van Buren (N.Y.)) added a lay-up off another Johnson assist with five ticks left to push the Golden Knights into the break with a 35-32 advantage.
  • The two teams forged the game's fourth and fifth ties during the opening 66 seconds of the second half.
  • Gannon snapped the final deadlock with six consecutive points. Senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), Green and Jackson scored during the mini-run.
  • Another 6-0 burst a few minutes later doubled the Gannon lead to 54-42 with 12:06 to play. Senior Gerrell Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview) produced the first four points, before Phoenix capped the run with a jumper.
  • Gannon's advantage stood at 63-52 with less than four minutes remaining when California (Pa.) slowly started to chip away at the lead.
  • Trailing 64-56, the Vulcans pulled within three points after an unconventional five-point play at the 1:44 mark. Luka Andjusic drained a three-pointer while Robel Teckle was being fouled. Teckle proceeded to go to the foul line where he converted two free throws.
  • Jackson then stepped up and hit a tough baseline jumper while being knocked to the ground. His ensuing free throw pushed the Gannon lead to 67-61 with 1:19 showing on the clock.
  • Cal kept coming and cut the deficit to 68-66 on a lay-up with 29 seconds remaining.
  • Redshirt sophomore Frank Webb Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mount Carmel) split a pair of free throws five seconds later for a 69-66 advantage.
  • The Gannon defense then clinched the victory by forcing a long three-pointer that was off the mark just before the buzzer as the Golden Knights celebrated a 69-66 win.

GAME NOTES
  • Five Golden Knights reached double digits for a balanced scoring attack.
  • Jackson led the Gannon offensive unit for the second consecutive game with 15 points and three steals.
  • Green followed with 12 points.
  • Miraud and Williams chipped in 11 points each. Miraud added five rebounds, three assists and two steals while hitting 4-of-5 field goal attempts and 3-of-4 free throws.
  • Phoenix completed Gannon's five-member double-digit group with 10 points and nine rebounds.
  • Gannon shot 47.1 percent (24-51) from the field, 27.3 percent (3-11) from three-point range and 78.3 percent (18-23) from the free throw line. 
  • Lewis topped California (Pa.) with 20 points, hitting 8-of-16 shots.
  • Teckle and Jahmere Howze added 18 and 13 points, respectively.
  • California (Pa.) shot 40.7 percent (22-54) from the floor, 33.3 percent (9-27) from behind the arc and 100 percent (13-13) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon out-rebounded California (Pa.) 34-26.
  • The Golden Knights generated a 34-16 scoring edge in the paint.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon was playing for the first time since an 88-63 home victory against Notre Dame (Ohio) on December 19, a span of 14 days.
  • The Golden Knights are in the midst of a seven-game stretch that includes six road contests.
  • Gannon held California (Pa.) 20 points below its scoring average. The Vulcans entered the contest 32nd among all NCAA Division II programs with 86.2 points per game.
  • The Golden Knight defense limited the PSAC's leading three-point shooter Cordell Smith to eight points and a 2-of-7 three-point chart.
  • Entering the night with the second-most points (234) by a PSAC player, Terry Davis was limited to only two points by the Gannon defense. The figure was nearly 18 points below his scoring average. The Golden Knights also kept Andjusic 11 points below his scoring average with three points. 
  • Miraud reached double digits in scoring for the fifth consecutive game while Green did so for the fourth straight contest.
  • Gannon improved to 5-1 when leading at halftime and 8-2 when at least three Golden Knights reach double digits in scoring.
  • Williams tied his season-high with 11 points.
  • Gannon defeated California (Pa.) for the fourth consecutive time overall.
  • The Golden Knights won at the Convocation Center for the second straight season and fourth time during their last six trips.
  • Gannon out-rebounded its opponent for the fifth straight contest and 11th time in 12 games.
  • The Golden Knights' 12 steals were their most since generating 13 during a 55-54 victory against West Chester at the Hammermill Center on December 17, 2014. It happened on the road for the first time since having 13 during an 80-73 win at Slippery Rock on February 22, 2012.
  • Gannon held its opponent under 70 points for the 11th consecutive game.
  • Five Golden Knights reached double digits in scoring for the first time since a 71-70 victory against Pitt-Johnstown at the Hammermill Center on February 1, 2017. It was the first time it occurred on the road since a 78-71 win at Clarion on February 11, 2015.

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 its 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 include a live video broadcast (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/upj) and live gameday statistics (http://www.sidearmstats.com/upj/mbball).
Print Friendly Version

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
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

G
6' 3"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Matt Johnson

#12 Matt Johnson

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
Kofi Mills

#32 Kofi Mills

F
6' 7"
Junior
Communication Arts
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
Gerrell Williams

#5 Gerrell Williams

6' 3"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G
Matt Johnson

#12 Matt Johnson

5' 11"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
G
Kofi Mills

#32 Kofi Mills

6' 7"
Junior
Communication Arts
F
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
G