DeAnte Cisero
Joe Mattis

Men's Basketball David Rung, Director of Athletics Media Relations

PREVIEW: Golden Knights Kick Off Second Half Of PSAC West Play At UPJ Saturday (Game Notes)

 
 GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Gannon at Pitt-Johnstown
 Game Details  Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019  | 3 p.m. | Sports Center | Directions     
 Records  Gannon (8-12, 6-7 PSAC) | Pitt-Johnstown (12-8, 7-6 PSAC)
 Game Coverage  Live Video – PSAC Digital Network
 Live Stats – Click Here
 Live Audio – Click Here
 Radio – Fox Sports 1330 AM
 Twitter Updates - @GUKnights
 Tickets  Adults ($5)
 Students ($3)
  
 Visitor's Guide | Campus Map
 Gannon Links  Game Notes (PDF) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
 Pitt-Johnstown Links   MBB Homepage | Roster | Schedule | Stats


AROUND THE LEAGUE SERIES HISTORY
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 24-5.
  • First Meeting: January 27, 1981: Gannon 75, Pitt-Johnstown 65
  • Last Meeting: January 9, 2019: Gannon 64, Pitt-Johnstown 61
  • How It Happened: Daryl Porter (Southfield, Mich./Walled Lake Western) had a huge sequence after UPJ rallied to get back in the game, hitting a jumper with 1:10 to play and following that with a big offensive rebound and free throw to ice the game. Porter posted 15 points and seven rebounds, while Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) went for 22 points and five 3-pointers.

JOHN REILLY WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
  •  Courtesy Sports Radio 1330 The Fan - Erie, Pa. – Click here

GANNON STORYLINES
  • Gannon finished the first half of the PSAC West schedule with a 5-3 record against divisional opponents. That included wins over two teams ahead of it in the standings in Slippery Rock and UPJ. The second half of the docket begins Saturday.
  • Daryl Porter (Southfield, Mich./Walled Lake Western) (22) and Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) (21) each eclipsed the 20-point mark Wednesday, the first time this season a pair of Golden Knights topped 20 points in the same game.
  • The Gannon offense was churning along against the high-powered Rock, hitting on 57.1 percent from the field in the first half to build a lead. The 82 points was the third most this year, and 52.9 percent shooting for the game was the most since the season opener.
  • The win over UPJ at home on Jan. 9 flipped the script for the Knights, starting a four-game winning streak that has led into five wins in their last six conference games.
  • After recording 12 points in just 15 minutes of action against Millersville, DeAnte Cisero (Chicago, Ill./Montgomery County (Ky.)) saw the floor for 30 minutes against Slippery Rock, and responded with 11 points and 14 rebounds, his best output since going for 17 and 13 against Mansfield on Dec. 2.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN CATS
  • Pitt-Johnstown finished off the month of January with a tough road trip to PSAC East front runner West Chester Wednesday and stumbled to their third loss in their last four games, 70-58. All three of those losses came on the road to teams in the top three of their division standings, at Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock and WCU. 
  • The Mountain Cats enter Saturday's matchup ranked 13th in the country and leading the PSAC with a 50.5 shooting percentage. They also rank ninth in the nation, allowing opponents to hit just 39.5 percent from the field. UPJ has outshot their opponent in 17 of their 20 games.
  • UPJ opened the season with a 59-58 victory over last season's regional finalist Virginia State to make a splash. VSU has responded by winning 16 of its last 17 since that opening weekend.
  • The PSAC West freshman of the week award has been dominated by the Mountain Cats this season, winning six out of the 10 thus far. Four different first-year players have won, including three by John Paul Kromka and one each for Joe Batt, Jared Jakubick and Fred Mulbah.
  • Kromka leads the league and is ninth in the country in field goal percentage at 63.4, and is 10th in Division II and also atop the conference with 2.40 blocks per game. The freshman forward averages 17.0 points and 7.5 rebounds.
  • The Mountain Cats are one of the top assisting teams in the country, and come into Saturday ranked sixth with 19.1 assists per game. They assist on 62.3 percent of their made field goals (382 of 613). Mulbah leads the team with 4.8 apg, while four others – Josh Wise, Kromka, Caiden Landis and Jakubick – dish out at least 2.0.
  • UPJ comes into February with a perfect 9-0 record on its home floor. The Cats have bested PSAC West foes Clarion, California, Seton Hill and Edinboro, as well as crossover opponents Millersville and Kutztown at home..

UP NEXT
  • The Golden Knights return to the Hammermill Center to start a string of four out of five games at home, facing Seton Hill Wednesday evening.
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Players Mentioned

Daryl Porter

#0 Daryl Porter

G
6' 2"
Senior
Business Administration
DeAnte Cisero

#33 DeAnte Cisero

F
6' 6"
Junior
Victor Olawoye

#3 Victor Olawoye

G
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Daryl Porter

#0 Daryl Porter

6' 2"
Senior
Business Administration
G
DeAnte Cisero

#33 DeAnte Cisero

6' 6"
Junior
F
Victor Olawoye

#3 Victor Olawoye

6' 2"
Freshman
G