Gary Miller Classic win
76
Saint Michael's SMC 3-2,0-1 NE10
86
Winner Gannon Gannon 3-1,0-0 PSAC
Saint Michael's SMC
3-2,0-1 NE10
76
Final
86
Gannon Gannon
3-1,0-0 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Michael's SMC 30 46 76
Gannon Gannon 43 43 86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

MVP Mims Powers Gannon to Gary Miller Classic Title with 86-76 Win over Saint Michael's

ERIE, Pa. – Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) served notice early that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with in the 37th Annual Gary Miller Classic championship game. Forty minutes later, the 6'6" redshirt sophomore was leading Gannon to an 86-76 win over Saint Michael's, and moments later was hoisting the MVP trophy.

Mims was joined on the All-Tournament team by fellow Golden Knight Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy), along with Saint Michael's Patrick Gardner, Kual Rahama of Concord, and D'Youville's Nelson St. Louis. Concord claimed the consolation game with a 90-69 win over D'Youville.

Gannon claimed its 19th overall Gary Miller Classic championship, but the first since 2017 and the first under third-year head coach Kelvin Jefferson. The Golden Knights won their third straight game to improve to 3-1. Saint Michael's dropped to 3-2.

A transfer from Towson, Mims scored a season-high 29 points, pulled down nine rebounds, had three steals, and blocked a shot. He made 14-of-26 field goals on a variety of mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket, many times challenging the 6'10" Gardner. He also had one rim-shattering dunk after driving through several Purple Knights while going three-quarters of the court.

With starting guards Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) and Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) once again sitting out with injuries, Paul stepped up in a big way. The transfer from Frank Phillips College stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 13 points (11 of those in the first half), pulling down eight rebounds, handing out nine assists, and recording a pair of steals while playing all 40 minutes.

Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), who led Gannon with 19 points yesterday in his first game of the season, had another strong effort worthy of all-tournament consideration with 16 points. Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) gave Gannon a fourth player in double digits while recording his first double-double after transferring from North Florida. The 6'7" graduate student scored 14 points, with an 8-for-9 effort at the line, along with a team-high 11 rebounds.

Jefferson employed just seven players, with all turning in strong contributions. Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) came off the bench to score seven points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) was the other reserve and finished with five points and a pair of steals. Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) scored just one basket all night, but had five rebounds and turned in a strong defensive effort against Gardner. The night before Gardner scored 33 points in a win over Concord. Gannon held him to 17.

The contest got off to a slow start, with Gannon holding just a 7-5 lead seven minutes into the contest. With the defense setting the tone, the Golden Knights went on a 10-2 run to boost the lead to double figures at 17-7 with 11:11 remaining. Paul and Herster each scored four points in the run.

The lead would grow to as much as 14 points late in the half before Pickens' short jumper at the buzzer gave GU a 43-30 lead at the half. Gannon forced 11 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, leading to a 15-4 advantage in points off turnovers. They also outscored the Purple Knights 13-0 on fast break points.

Gannon would maintain a double-digit lead for much of the second half, holding a 15-point advantage at 71-56 with 3:40 remaining. Saint Michael's used a 9-2 run to pull to within 73-65 with 1:42 left. That came after a pair of free throws by Nahshon Battle following an intentional fall. The Purple Knights still maintained possession but Battle's 3-pointer was off the mark and Pickens pulled down the rebound and was fouled. He made both from the charity stripe, and after a Saint Michael's turnover, Jonaitis made a pair of free throws to quell any comeback hopes.  

Gannon shot 47.4 percent from the floor (31-of-64), with a 4-for-15 showing from beyond the arc, while making 20-of-26 free throws. Saint Michael's was 26-of-64 from the floor (40.7 percent), making 10-of-33 3-pointers, and 14-of-18 at the line. Gannon controlled the glass, 46-32, limiting the Purple Knights to just seven offensive rebounds.

The Golden Knights also dominated in two other areas – points in the paint (46-30) and fast break points (26-11).  

Gardner led four Purple Knights in double figures while recording his second double-double of the tournament. He finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Jacob Dunbar and Jontai Williams scored 12 points each, and Kasai Brown finished with 11.

The Gary Miller Classic marks the end of non-conference play for the Golden Knights. They now begin PSAC action with a pair of crossover contests next weekend, playing at Shepherd on Friday, December 3, followed the next day by a visit to Shippensburg. Shippensburg was picked as the preseason favorite in the PSAC East. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m.
 
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