Gannon Senior Day Photo (L-R) Damon Miraud, Gerrell Williams, Zay Jackson, Head Coach John Reilly, Jair Green
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Gannon seniors Damon Miraud, Gerrell Williams, Zay Jackson and Jair Green celebrated Senior Day with a last-minute victory.
68
Slippery Rock ROCK-M 20-8, 14-8 PSAC
72
Winner Gannon University GAN-M 20-8, 16-6 PSAC
Slippery Rock ROCK-M
20-8, 14-8 PSAC
68
Final
72
Gannon University GAN-M
20-8, 16-6 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock ROCK-M 29 39 68
Gannon University GAN-M 29 43 72

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Slippery Rock University

2/28/2018 | 7:30 PM

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Feb. 28 (Wed) / 7:30 PM
 Slippery Rock University

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

Gannon Men's Basketball Team Rallies for 72-68 Victory Against the Rock; Clinches PSAC Tourney First-Round Bye (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 72, Slippery Rock 68
  • Records: Gannon (20-8, 16-6 PSAC), Slippery Rock (20-8, 14-8 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center (Gary Miller Court)
  • The Short Story: Senior Zay Jackson (Queens, N.Y./Westside) hit a go-ahead jumper with 11.7 seconds left before redshirt sophomore Frank Webb Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mount Carmel) sealed the victory with a steal and lay-up while being fouled with two seconds remaining as the Gannon men's basketball team rallied for a 72-68 victory against Slippery Rock Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at the Hammermill Center. As a result, the Golden Knights clinched the PSAC Western Division's second seed and a conference tournament first-round bye.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon scored the first four points while holding Slippery Rock scoreless for the opening three minutes and 19 seconds.
  • However, the two teams traded punches with neither grabbing a lead larger than four points during the first seven minutes.
  • Gannon generated the game's first run with a 9-2 blitz to assume a 19-10 lead near the midway point of the first half. All nine points came from behind the arc, including two bombs from Jackson and one from senior Gerrell Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview).
  • The difference was still nine points at 21-12 when Slippery Rock countered with six straight points.
  • Gannon came right back with a seven consecutive points to push its lead into double digits at 28-18 with 5:36 left in the first half. The five points came on free throws from Jackson and senior Damon Miraud (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), before a Webb Jr. lay-up capped the run.
  • Slippery Rock responded again with the next nine points and eventually tied the contest at 29 on two free throws by Bruce Spruell. That score didn't change before the two teams went to the halftime break.
  • The second half turned into a war between two of the PSAC's top programs with neither team able to produce a lead larger than three points through the first 10 minutes.
  • Leading 56-55, Gannon tried to create breathing room with an 8-2 run. Junior Evan Phoenix (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) ignited the stretch with back-to-back lay-ups followed by consecutive jumpers from Williams and senior Jair Green (Williamstown, N.J./Paul VI) that gave the Golden Knights a 64-57 lead with 4:35 to play.
  • The momentum swings continued with Slippery Rock ripping off 11 of the next 14 points and eventually taking a 68-67 lead on Micah Till's lay-up at the 1:49 mark.
  • Jackson then had to reverse direction out of a double team moments later on the right wing with the shot clock off and down by one point, dribbled left and drained a jumper just inside the three-pointer line at the top of the arc to give Gannon a 69-68 advantage with 11.7 seconds remaining.
  • Slippery Rock had one last chance to win the game, but Webb Jr. stole the ball from Spruell on the left wing and raced down court for a lay-up while being fouled with two seconds left. His ensuing free throw iced the 72-68 last-minute victory for the Golden Knights.

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's contest was Senior Day for Gannon. Green, Jackson, Miraud and Williams were honored during pregame festivities. 
  • Jackson led Gannon in scoring for the third consecutive game and 16th time this season with 25 points and five rebounds.
  • Phoenix followed with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
  • Green completed Gannon's trio of double-digit scorers with his first career double-double, posting 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. He also dished out five assists.
  • Gannon shot 39.4 percent (26-66) from the field, including a 52.9-percent (16-23) clip during the second half. The Golden Knights shot 44.4 percent (4-9) from three-point range and 69.6 percent (16-23) from the free throw line. 
  • Slippery Rock placed four of its five starters in double figures, led by Till's 14 points and 12 rebounds.
  • Brandon Simmons was next with 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
  • Spruell and Khyree Wooten added 12 points each. 
  • Slippery Rock shot 40.3 percent (27-67) from the floor, including a 27.3-percent (9-33) clip during the opening 20 minutes. The Rock shot 26.7 percent (4-15) from behind the arc and 62.5 percent (10-16) from the charity stripe.
  • Wednesday's contest featured five ties and four lead changes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Women's basketball junior Nicole LaCava and Williams were honored prior to the game as the Rand Garrity Sportsmanship Award winners. The honor has been given to one female student-athlete and one male student-athlete each season since the 2001-02 campaign. 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 clinched the PSAC Western Division's second seed and a conference tournament first-round bye with the victory.
  • The Golden Knights grabbed a free pass into the PSAC Quarterfinals with a bye for the second consecutive season.
  • Gannon extended its home win streak to 13 games, representing the program's longest home win streak since the 2008-09 NCAA Division II Elite Eight team had that same total from January 17-March 17.
  • The Golden Knights defeated the Rock for the seventh consecutive time at the Hammermill Center, improving to 20-5 in the series at home.
  • Gannon out-rebounded their opponent for the ninth consecutive game and 26th time in 28 games.
  • Entering the game No. 1 among NCAA Division II programs in offensive rebounds per game (17.41) and No. 3 in rebounding margin (12.5), Slippery Rock was held to 11 offensive rebounds while being out-rebounded overall by two.
  • Jackson reached double digits in scoring for the 10th consecutive game while Phoenix did so for the sixth straight contest. 
  • The Golden Knights shot 50 percent during the second half for the fourth consecutive game.
  • Gannon was tied at halftime for the first time this season.
  • The Golden Knights improved to 14-3 in the months of January and February.
  • Gannon was ranked 10th in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released Wednesday afternoon.
  • The Golden Knights played their eighth game of the season decided by five points or less, winning five of those contests.
  • Gannon recorded its fourth 20-win season in the last six years.
  • The Golden Knights had single-digit turnovers in a game for the sixth time this season.
  • Gannon held its opponent to single-digit assists for the seventh time this year.

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS POSTSEASON RENEWALS
  • Season ticket holders who were not able to renew their seats for the postseason after Saturday's game will also be able to do so on Wednesday when ticket windows open at 6 p.m. Renewals will not be available during the week.
  • Ticket prices for Wednesday's quarterfinal match-up 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 postseason 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.
  • Only cash or checks will be accepted for ticket sales.
  • Questions regarding the PSAC Tournament ticket presale can be directed to the Gannon Athletics Department at (814) 871-7416.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concluded the regular season with Saturday's contest against Slippery Rock.
  • The Golden Knights will host a PSAC Quarterfinal Game Wednesday, February 28 against the Slippery Rock-Mercyhurst first-round winner at 7:30 p.m.
  • All Gannon postseason games can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Outlets to follow Wednesday's PSAC Quarterfinal Game at the Hammermill Center 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

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
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

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
Frank Webb Jr.

#1 Frank Webb Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
G