GAMEDAY CENTRAL | No. 24 GANNON VS. CLARION
Game Details	Wednesday, February 10, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. | Tippin Gym Saturday, February 13, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. | Hammermill Center
Records	Gannon (4-0) | Clarion (1-3)
Game Coverage	Game 1: Live Video – PSAC Digital Network Game 2: Live Video – PSAC Digital Network Game 1: Live Stats Game 2: Live Stats
Information	No fans will be permitted at Hammermill Center.
Gannon Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Clarion Links	Roster | Schedule | Statistics

ERIE, Pa. – No. 24 Gannon is back in action with a two-game home-and-home nonconference series with Clarion. The two teams will open the series at Clarion on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. before wrapping up at Hammermill Center on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
 
QUICK HITS

• Gannon begins the week after back-to-back wins over then-ranked No. 25/RV Daemen on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31. It also marked the Golden Knights' first win over a top 25 opponent since the 2014-15 season and first under head coach Kelvin Jefferson.
• Gannon is currently positioned No. 6 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll and receiving votes in the latest NABC Top 25 Poll.
• This will mark the 57th and 58th all-time meetings in a series that dates back to 1948-49. Gannon has won the last nine meetings and leads the all-time series, 43-13.
• Through the first four games of the season, Gannon ranks in the top 10 nationally in assists per game (3rd, 20.0) and three-point field goal percentage (3rd, 44.9).

OFF AND ROLLIN'

• Gannon has started the season with a 4-0 overall record, which is the best start to a season since the 2012-13 season.
• The Knights opened the season with back-to-back wins over Kentucky State. Gannon then went on the road and shocked then-ranked No. 25/RV Daemen after trailing by as many as 20 points on to outscore the Wildcats 47-28 in the second half to steal the win, 76-73.
• Gannon then closed out the series at home rolling past Daemen, 95-62, behind a career-high 25 points from Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic). The wins marked the Knights' first over a top 25 opponent since the 2014-15 season and first under head coach Kelvin Jefferson.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD

• Gannon netted a season-high 95 points against Daemen on Jan. 31. It marked the most points scored by the Knights in a single game since the 2016-17 season.
• Gannon drained a season-best 34 field goals. The Knights also netted a season-high 15 three pointers, which is the most in a single game since at least the 2002-03 season.

SHARING THE ROCK

• As a team, Gannon is averaging 20.0 assists per contest, which ranks third in the nation.
• The Knights have passed out 20 or more assists in two games this season, including a season-high 28 vs. Daemen on Jan. 31. The performance marked the most assists in a game since Gannon passed out 30 against Penn State Greater Allegheny on Nov. 17, 2007.

FROM DOWNTOWN

• Gannon has netted 11 or more three pointers in three contests this season and is shooting 44.9 percent from behind the arc, which ranks third in the nation.
• The Knights connected on a season-high 15 triples against Daemen on Jan. 31, which was the most since at least the 2002-03 season.

CONTROLLING THE GLASS

• Gannon in grabbing 39.0 rebounds per game his season. The Knights have snatched 40 or more in two games this season, including a season-high 48 against Kentucky State on Jan. 12.

HOOPDIRT.COM COACH OF THE WEEK

• Head coach Kelvin Jefferson was named HoopDirt.com NCAA DII Coach of the Week on Feb. 1 after guiding Gannon to its best start since 2012-13 after opening the season with a 4-0 overall record.
• Jefferson joins Lon Kruger (NCAA DI, Oklahoma), Clay Nunley (NCAA DIII, Roanoke College), Ryan Wall (NAIA, Texas A&M University – Texarkana) and Luke Strege (JUCO, Mineral Area College) as the HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week winners.

IN THE RANKINGS

• After being off over the weekend, Gannon moved into the NABC Top 25 Poll at No. 24 after receiving votes last week.
• The Knights remained at No. 6 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll for the second straight week.

DIRECTING TRAFFIC

• Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) has wasted no time getting his teammates involved in the action this season handing out 7.5 assists per game, which ranks second the nation.
• Olsen made an impact in his first game as a Knight passing out a career-high 12 assists against Kentucky State on Jan. 12. The performance ranks as the fifth most in NCAA Division II this season.
• He was the first Knight to reach double digits in assists in a game since Jimmy Berger notched 14 against California on Jan. 3, 2017.

PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF

• Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) picked up where he left off in 2019-20 and has begun his career starting 31 straight games, including all four this season. He is averaging a team-best 15 points per contest and has reached double digits in scoring in all four games.
• Clancy has drained a team-high 15 triples and netted four or more in his last two games. He matched a career-high six made three pointers and posted a season-high 18 points in the win over Daemen on Jan. 31.

FINDING HIS ROLE

• Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) has started all four games this season and has contributed two double digit scoring performances. He helped lead the Knights in the win over Daemen on Jan. 31 with his first career 20-point game with a career-best 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Herster also netted a career-best five three pointers against the Wildcats.

FACING CLARION

• This will mark the 57th and 58th all-time meetings in a series that dates back to 1948-49. Gannon has won the last nine meetings and leads the all-time series, 43-13.
• In their most recent meeting last season, Gannon rolled past Clarion, 71-51, at Hammermill Center on Feb. 19. 11 different Knights reached the scoring column in the win.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES

• The Golden Eagles enter the week with a 1-3 overall record and have lost their last two contests. Most recently, Clarion came up short against then-ranked No. 8/18 Mercyhurst on the road, 91-54. 
• Clarion is led by second year head coach Damian Pitts. He has compiled a 6-26 overall record.
• Gerald Jarmon leads the Golden Eagles with a team-high 17.3 points per game. He's reached double digits in scoring in his last two games, including a season-high 25-point performance against Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 22.

Through his first 4 games of the season, @GANNON_MBB PG Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) ranks 2nd in the nation in assists per game with 7.5. #UKnighted | #KnightNotes pic.twitter.com/vQlHegy1Vo

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) February 9, 2021

All athletic events  follow guidance from Gannon University's Return To Campus Plan, Gannon Athletics' Return To Play Plan, the NCAA's Resocialization of Collegiate Sport, and all state and local government regulations.