Porter 1040x580 012319
Joe Mattis
35
Gannon GAN-M 7-11, 5-7 PSAC
51
Winner Mercyhurst MER-M 12-4, 7-4 PSAC
Gannon GAN-M
7-11, 5-7 PSAC
35
Final
51
Mercyhurst MER-M
12-4, 7-4 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GAN-M 15 20 35
Mercyhurst MER-M 24 27 51

Next Game:

at Millersville University

1/26/2019 | 3:00 PM

Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 26 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
at Millersville University

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | David Rung, Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights See Streak Snapped In Porreco Pride Of Erie Slugfest (Highlights)


THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Mercyhurst 51, Gannon 35
  • Records: Gannon (7-11, 5-7 PSAC) | Mercyhurst (12-4, 7-4 PSAC)
  • Location: Mercyhurst Athletic Center — Erie, Pa.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER  
KEY SEQUENCE
  • In a game that was a defensive slugfest throughout, three Matt Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) free throws with 8:01 to play got Gannon back to within two possessions at 38-32. Jason Massey responded immediately with a layup for Mercyhurst though, and his three-point play three minutes later made it a 12-point lead for the Lakers, who would hold on to grab the first Porreco Pride of Erie game of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The flow of the game was established early, as the lids didn't come off the baskets until over three-and-a-half minutes were gone on a Mercyhurst 3-pointer. Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) tied it up at the 14:10 mark of the first half with a triple of his own, but that was the last point the Golden Knights would get until nearly 12 minutes later.
  • The Lakers weren't that much hotter during Gannon's cold stretch, but were able to methodically add to their lead. Three buckets inside and a Trystan Pratapas 3-pointer made it 14-5 at the midway point of the half, and another five points had the hosts leading 19-5 with 4:26 to go in the period.
  • An excellent stretch of offense from the Knights in the final three minutes pulled them back into it, as DeAnte Cisero (Chicago, Ill./Montgomery County (Ky.)) and Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) each saw a pair of shots fall to cut it to 11. Olawoye converted on a pair of free throws for the final points of the half to make it a single-digit game at 24-15 heading the locker room.
  • Gannon kept up the defensive pressure to start the second half, completing a 10-0 run that spanned the intermission and keeping the Lakers off the board for over three minutes of game time. A basket from Porter and free throws from Cisero had the Knights right back in it with 17:49 on the click, down just 24-19.
  • A layup and a 3-pointer gave the hosts five straight points to answer though, and buckets from Mike Haysbert (Baltimore, Md./Western School of Technology and Environmental Science) and Porter only managed to cut the deficit to nine. Another pressure defensive sequence by the Knights saw Hurst go without a field goal for over six minutes, during which a Dodds layup and Johnson's free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer sliced it to six.
  • After Mercyhurst pushed back out to a 12-point lead, Joe Fustine (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) buried a triple with 4:28 to play to make it 44-35 to give the Golden Knights a fighting chance. The Lakers got two big offensive rebounds and a foul to keep the ball out of Gannon's hands for the next 1:32 though, and after a missed 3-pointer on the other end for the Knights, converted on a layup and 3-pointer to close it out.
     
GAME NOTES
  • Gannon and Mercyhurst entered the night as the top two teams in the Atlantic Region in scoring defense, with both in the top 15 nationally, and both will see that average lower even more.
  • Each team was held more than 25 points under its average offensive output this season, with Gannon holding the Lakers to 11 fewer points than their previous low output this season.
  • The loss snapped both a four-game winning streak this season for the Golden Knights, as well as a four-game winning streak against the Lakers.
  • The 86 combined points is the third lowest in the 77-game series history between the two teams, bested only by 85 total points in 2015-16 (48-37 Mercyhurst win) and 80 in 2012-13 (44-36 Mercyhurst win).
  • The 35 points scored by the Knights is the lowest since netting 32 in a defeat at Steubenville on Dec. 8, 1972.
  • Porter netted eight points to lead Gannon, but the senior saw his double-digit point streak come to an end at six games.
  • Dodds continued his solid play inside, pulling in 10 rebounds to match a career high and adding six points and two steals.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues what has turned into a busy week with its final crossover opponent of the season, heading to Millersville Saturday afternoon.
  • The 3 p.m. tip from Pucillo Gymnasium will feature live video, live stats and live audio.
  • In a scheduling quirk due to Cheyney dropping out of the league, the game will not count toward Gannon's PSAC record, but will for the Marauders.
  • The Golden Knights hold an 11-5 lead in the all-time series against Millersville after an 86-60 win at home last season.
  • The Marauders sit at 11-7 (7-4 PSAC) after a 78-59 win against Lock Haven Wednesday evening, and are winners of four straight.
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Players Mentioned

Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

G/F
6' 3"
Senior
Risk Management/Accounting
Mike Haysbert

#42 Mike Haysbert

F
6' 7"
Senior
Business
Matt Johnson

#21 Matt Johnson

G
6' 0"
Junior
Sport and Exercise Science
DeAnte Cisero

#33 DeAnte Cisero

F
6' 6"
Junior
Kevin Dodds

#10 Kevin Dodds

F
6' 8"
Freshman
Victor Olawoye

#3 Victor Olawoye

G
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Joe Fustine

#24 Joe Fustine

6' 3"
Senior
Risk Management/Accounting
G/F
Mike Haysbert

#42 Mike Haysbert

6' 7"
Senior
Business
F
Matt Johnson

#21 Matt Johnson

6' 0"
Junior
Sport and Exercise Science
G
DeAnte Cisero

#33 DeAnte Cisero

6' 6"
Junior
F
Kevin Dodds

#10 Kevin Dodds

6' 8"
Freshman
F
Victor Olawoye

#3 Victor Olawoye

6' 2"
Freshman
G