Braden Olsen vs. Ashland
68
Winner Gannon GANNON-M 4-1, 1-0 PSAC
60
Shepherd SHEP-M 4-2, 0-1 PSAC
Winner
Gannon GANNON-M
4-1, 1-0 PSAC
68
Final
60
Shepherd SHEP-M
4-2, 0-1 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GANNON-M 36 32 68
Shepherd SHEP-M 31 29 60

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

Gannon Survives Barrage of Three's for Impressive Win at Shepherd

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Venturing away from the friendly confines of the Hammermill Center for the first time in 2021-22, the Gannon men's basketball team opened PSAC action with an impressive 68-60 win at Shepherd. The Golden Knights won their fourth straight game to improve to 4-1 and 1-0 in conference play, while the Rams saw their four-game winning streak come to an end while falling to 4-2 and 0-1, respectively.

Gannon never trailed in the contest and took the lead for good less than two minutes into the game at 5-2 on a 3-pointer by Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic). The lead would quickly grow to 18-6 thanks to a 13-2 run that featured the return of guard Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn). The redshirt junior had missed the previous three games with an injury.

Herster hit a pair of free throws after Shepherd pulled to within 5-4. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) had a hand in the next two baskets, draining a 3-pointer then feeding Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) for a layup to make it 12-4. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) followed with a pair of free throws then fed Olsen for a layup for his first points since the opener. Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) capped the run with a rebound basket for the 18-6 advantage with 13:16 left in the half.

The Golden Knights continued to play a near perfect half, as the lead grew to its largest of the evening at 28-12 following a Jonaitis dunk and Olsen layup.
Shepherd would manage to cut the lead late in the half as the Golden Knights faced a barrage of 3-pointers by the Rams. A run of eight straight points, fueled by a pair of three's, cut GU's lead to 34-31 with just under two minutes left in the half. A Paul drive with 1:16 left gave the Golden Knights a 36-31 lead at intermission. Shepherd fought back into the game on the strength of seven 3-pointers.

The teams traded a trio of baskets each to start the second half, but Paul made sure the Rams never completed the comeback. The redshirt sophomore guard scored 10 of Gannon's first 17 in the half and fueled an 8-0 run that gave the Knights a 51-39 lead with 12:46 left. After a Mims jumper, Paul buried a 3-pointer, Herster scored thanks to a nice pass from Dodds, and Paul made one of two free throws.  

Shepherd would pull no closer than eight the rest of the way. The Rams did so on two occasions before the final score. The first was at 54-46 midway through the half, but a Herster drive and traditional 3-point play built the lead back up to 59-46. Shepherd later closed to 61-53, only to see Dodds score on a rebound and Olsen make a three.

Paul led four Knights in double figures with his second double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points and making 10 rebounds. He made 8-of-14 field goals with a pair of three's, and went 3-for-4 at the line.

Herster contributed 14 points, while Olsen had 13 along with three assists. Mims finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Gannon 44.8 percent from the floor (26-of-58), making 6-of-20 3-pointers, and made 10-of-12 free throws. More than half of Shepherd's baskets came from beyond the arc, as the Rams were 12-of-33 on 3-pointers and 22-of-57 overall (38.6 percent). They made 4-of-5 free throws. Gannon won the battle of the boards, 37-30, while committing just eight turnovers to 10 for Shepherd.

Six different Rams made 3-pointers. Kyle Daggett led Shepherd with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Carson Poffenberger added 11 points. Each made three three's. Dan McClain-Corley entered the game averaging 19.6 ppg. but was held to nine points, while Cam Stephens was limited to eight after averaging 13.8 ppg.

Gannon has little time to enjoy the victory as the Knights play at PSAC East preseason favorite Shippensburg on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Heiges Field House.  
           
 
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