24
Sean Gallagher

Men's Basketball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Plays First of Three Games This Week at Cal

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (8-4, 5-3 PSAC West) at CAL U VULCANS (11-4, 6-3 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Monday, January 24, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Convocation Center l California, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS
 
RADIO:  Gannon basketball fans can catch all of the exciting action of Golden Knights' basketball on 90.5 WERG FM. Jack Quinn and Sean Amicucci will serve as announcers for the games. Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations will handle the call for the Cal doubleheader.
 
THE GANNON-CAL U ALL-TIME SERIES
Gannon leads 21-16
Gannon and Cal met on three occasions in 2019-20, including an opening round game in the PSAC Tournament. The last two meetings came three days apart, and both at Cal, as they ended the regular season with Gannon winning 82-71 at Cal. The Vulcans claimed a 68-64 victory at Gannon in January. Cal would move on in the PSAC Tournament with a 74-58 win. It was the first time Gannon had played Cal in postseason action since the 1987-88 NCAA Tournament. Gannon has won seven of the last ten meetings, but is 6-10 when playing at Cal. The series first began in 1949-50.    
 
Last Meeting
March 2, 2020 – PSAC Tournament -- at Cal U 74, Gannon 58 I RECAP
Gannon saw its season come to an end with the loss to the Vulcans in the first round of the PSAC Tournament. DeAnte Cisero and Frank Webb Jr. led the Golden Knights with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Webb added nine rebounds. Gannon scored the first six points of the game but Cal would take a 37-27 lead at the half. The Golden Knights closed the gap to six points early in the second half but would get no closer. Zyan Collins led four Vulcans in double figures with 20 points.
 
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – After not playing for almost two weeks, the Gannon men's basketball team faces a hectic next month. Due to COVID postponements, the Golden Knights are scheduled to play three times a week for the next four weeks. The stretch starts on Monday, January 24 as Gannon heads back out on the road to play at Cal U. Tip off at the Convocation Center is 7:30 p.m.
 
The Golden Knights returned to action on Saturday with a 66-61 loss at East Stroudsburg in a physical, defensive-oriented contest. They are now 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the PSAC West. Cal, meanwhile, won its third straight game with an 87-71 upset at 11th-ranked Mercyhurst. The victory leaves the Vulcans at 11-4 with a 6-3 league record.
 
Head coach Kelvin Jefferson has guided the Golden Knights to a solid start despite playing shorthanded much of the season. With Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) returning against ESU after missing the previous two outings, Gannon is only still awaiting the return of Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's). The sharpshooting guard has been able to play in just five games this season.
Jefferson used just seven players at Seton Hill, with Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) playing all 40 minutes. He was able to return to a more normal rotation at East Stroudsburg while employing his sixth different starting lineup this year.
 
Four Golden Knights are scoring in double digits. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) leads the way at 16.7 ppg., and is also the team's assist leader with 47. Though just six-feet tall, he stands second on the team in rebounding at 7.5 rpg. The transfer from Frank Phillips College had his second double-double of the season with 16 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
 
Herster hit a pair of 3-pointers in his return at ESU. The 6'6" redshirt freshman is averaging 16.4 ppg. and has made a team-high 19 3-pointers in 56 attempts while playing in eight games. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) is the lone Golden Knight to play in all 12 games. The 6'6" redshirt sophomore averages 13.6 ppg. and 6.5 rpg. Clancy comes in at 10.0 ppg., but has appeared in just five games.
 
Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) is the team's top rebounder, pulling down 8.4 rpg. The 6'7" graduate student had his third double-double of the season at Seton Hill, and followed that up with 12 rebounds at ESU. That's his fourth game with 10-or-more rebounds this season.
 
Despite being picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll, Cal is a team that has been somewhat flying under the radar to everyone but opposing coaches. The Vulcans are third in the conference in scoring offense at 85.9 ppg. and showcase two of the top five scorers in the PSAC. Philip Alston leads the PSAC at 22.2 ppg. while Brent Pegram comes in fifth at 18.2 ppg.
 
Following the Cal contest, Gannon plays for the first time at the Hammermill Center since January 5 on Wednesday, January 26, hosting Clarion. That's followed by a trip to Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, January 29.
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC STATS
Scoring Offense – 76.9 (11th)                                   
Scoring Defense – 67.8 (6th)              
Field Goal Pct. -- .463 (7th)                                                          
Field Goal Pct. Defense -- .387 (1st)         
3 FGM per Game – 5.9 (16th)     
Rebound Margin -- +7.5 (3rd)                    
Turnover Margin -- -1.0 (12th)                   
 
DEFENSE STOUT AT ESU
Defense was the name of the game on Saturday at East Stroudsburg. The Golden Knights held ESU to 31.1 percent shooting from the floor, with the Warriors making 19-of-61 shots. They failed to make a field goal in the lats five minutes and sank just two shots in the final 11 minutes. Gannon leads the PSAC in field goal percentage defense at 38.7 percent, and is ninth in Division II.
 
KNIGHTS RULE THE BOARDS
One of the keys to Gannon's success in 2021-22 has been a dominance on the glass. That was clearly evident at Seton Hill, as the Golden Knights outrebounded the Griffins, 41-29. Gannon was outrebounded in the first half at East Stroudsburg, but ruled the glass in the second half to finish with a 49-44 rebounding advantage. Three different players were in double digits. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) snuck inside to pull down a season-high 13 rebounds, while Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) had 12 boards. That marked his fourth game with 10-or-more rebounds. Seven-foot freshman Ali Ragab (Cairo, Egypt/Rocktop Academy) matched his season-high with 11 rebounds in just 17 minutes. Gannon has now outrebounded the opponents ten times in 12 games. The Golden Knights rank third in the PSAC and 13th in Division II in rebounding margin at +7.5 per game.
 
JEFFERSON EMPLOYS SIXTH DIFFERENT LINEUP VS. WARRIORS
Injuries and a roster with plenty of depth have forced and allowed head coach Kelvin Jefferson to mix and match his starting lineup. The result has been six different lineup combinations over the first 12 games. The third-year coach employed a new one at East Stroudsburg. Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) and Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) returned after missing the last two games, with Jonaitis making his first career start. They were joined by Demetrius Sims, the only player to start all 12 games, Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) and Donovan Forte (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights). Paul was starting his 11th game and Forte his third straight.
 
RAGAB A FORCE IN THE PAINT ON SATURDAY
At 7'0", Ali Ragab (Cairo, Egypt/Rocktop Academy) is one of the tallest players to ever wear the Maroon and Gold. But he is proving to be more than just a player with height. The freshman has emerged as a true contributor in recent games. That was very evident at East Stroudsburg. He was a force in the paint with his second double-double, scoring 10 points and matching his season high with 11 rebounds in 17 minutes. That included seven on the offensive glass. While being credited with just one block, he altered several other shots. He previously had 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a season-high 19 minutes vs. Bloomsburg.

MIMS NAMED PSAC WEST DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 
Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week a week ago for his performance in last week's 63-53 win at Seton Hill. He registered his first double-double at Seton Hill, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. In addition, he had three steals and blocked a shot. With Mims leading the way, Gannon held Seton Hill to just 53 points, matching a season low, and the Griffins shot just 35.8 percent from the floor. On offense, the 6'6" guard made 7-of-12 field goal attempts along with his lone free throw.
 
MIMS, PAUL PLAY ALL 40 AT SETON HILL
Gannon's depth has been put to the test the last two weeks with four key players missing. It has led to increased minutes for several players. On Seton Hill, Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) each played all 40 minutes. The only other time that occurred this year was when Paul played 40 minutes vs. Saint Michael's in the championship game of the Gary Miller Classic. Paul and Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) played 39 minutes against Mercyhurst, with Mims playing 37. The trio accounted for 46 of Gannon's 63 points at Seton Hill, with LeGrand and Mims recording double-doubles.
 
LEGRAND COMES ALIVE IN SECOND HALF VS. GRIFFINS
After scoring just one point in the previous two games, Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) came alive in the second half at Seton Hill. The 6'7" graduate student by way of North Florida also failed to score in the first half on Monday. That changed in the second half as he contributed 12 points. It got started with a dunk, and he followed that up with back-to-back 3-pointers. LeGrand added a season-high 13 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
 
MIMS, PAUL POP FOR 20 VS. MERCYHURST
Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) led Gannon with 21 points vs. Mercyhurst, and Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) chipped in with 20 points. It was the second 20-point effort for Mims this season, and Paul has scored 20-or-more points three times. It also marked the first time Gannon has had two players score 20-or-more points in the same game since the second-to-the-last game of the 2020-21 campaign. In the 80-75 win over Indiana(Pa.), the backcourt tandem of Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) and Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) scored 25 and 21 points, respectively.   
 
TRANSFERS BOLSTER GANNON ROSTER
Head coach Kelvin Jefferson bolstered the 2021-22 roster with the addition of three key transfers. The most notable was Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), who saw a considerable amount of time at Division I Towson a year ago. Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) also joined the Golden Knights from the Division I ranks after transferring from North Florida, while the backcourt added JUCO transfer Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) from Frank Phillips College. Mims, a 6'6" redshirt sophomore, stands third on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg.) and rebounding (6.5 rpg.). A 6'7" graduate student, LeGrand is the team's leading rebounder (8.4 rpg.) while contributing 7.6 ppg. Paul, meanwhile, was asked to fill in at point guard after Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) went down with an injury. The 6'0" redshirt sophomore has emerged as GU's leading scorer at 16.7 ppg., and is also a surprising second in rebounding at 7.5 rpg. He leads Gannon with 47 assists.
 
GANNON CLAIMS GARY MILLER CLASSIC CROWN FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2017
Thanks to an 86-76 win over Saint Michael's in the championship game, Gannon won its first tournament title since 2017 and the 19th overall. It was also the first under head coach Kelvin Jefferson. The Golden Knights have now reached the title game six straight years.
 
MIMS NAMED MVP, PAUL JOINS HIM ON ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) was named the MVP of the 37th Annual Gary Miller Classic after scoring a season-high 29 points in the 86-76 win over Saint Michael's in the championship game. The 6'6" transfer from Towson added nine rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot. He made 14-of-26 field goals on a variety of mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket, many times challenging 6'10" Patrick Gardner. He also had one rim-shattering dunk after driving through several Purple Knights while going three-quarters of the court. Mims was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy). The 6'0" guard, a transfer from Frank Phillips College, had 13 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists while playing all 40 minutes vs. Saint Michael's.
 
CHEATHAM LAST TO PRODUCE TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Gannon has had two players challenge a triple-double in the opening four games. Both were by Gannon point guards. In the season opener, Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) nearly duplicated the fete vs. Saint Michael's with 13 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Javar Cheatham is the last Golden Knight to produce a triple-double. Another point guard, he had 20 points, 14 assists, and had 10 rebounds on January 18, 2001 in Gannon's 89-80 home win over Ferris State.
 
GANNON PICKED FIFTH IN PSAC PRESEASON POLL
Gannon was picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West in the Coaches' Preseason Poll. Indiana(Pa.) is the preseason favorite and received seven of the nine first place votes. Mercyhurst was second in the poll, with Pitt-Johnstown third. UPJ received the other two first place votes. Cal U was fourth.  Gannon played a COVID-shortened schedule during the spring of 2021 and went 10-4 overall. The Golden Knights made several appearances in the NABC Division II national rankings a season ago, climbing as high as No. 21 in the country. Cal was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West.
 
KNIGHTS PLAY DIVISION I PITTSBURGH, OLD DOMINION IN EXHIBITION GAMES
Gannon played a pair of exhibition games against Division I opponents in early November. While losing both, the contests were much closer than the final score indicated. On Nov. 1, the Golden Knights dropped an 89-64 decision at Pittsburgh. They trailed 49-41 with just over 13 minutes remaining before the Panthers went on an 11-0 run. Another string of 11 consecutive points doomed the Golden Knights at Old Dominion on Nov. 6. Gannon trailed 41-33 at the half but ODU scored the first 11 points after intermission and won 96-56. Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) paced the Golden Knights with 11 points, while Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) was also in double figures with 10 points. Three players scored in double digits at ODU, with Herster again leading the way with 18 markers. Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) chipped in with 16 points and Paul had 10. 
 
SCOUTING CAL  
Cal comes off an impressive 87-71 dismantling of 11th-ranked Mercyhurst on the Lakers' homecourt on Saturday. It was the second win over a ranked opponent this season and the third in a row for the Vulcans. Head coach Danny Sancomb is in his fourth year at Cal and has assembled a high-scoring, athletic outfit, with all five starters scoring in double figures. Cal ranks third in the PSAC in scoring at 85.9 ppg. and is fourth in field goal percentage at 47.9 percent.  Philip Alston and Brent Pegram rank as two of the top five scorers in the PSAC. Alston, a 6'6" sophomore forward, not only leads the conference in scoring at 22.2 ppg., but is also the top rebounder at 10.9 rpg.  He is shooting 55.8 percent from the floor and has 36 blocks, second in the PSAC. Pegram, a 5'11" senior guard who is a two-time All-PSAC West selection, adds 18.2 ppg., fifth in the PSAC, and 5.1 rpg. he has made 31-of-92 3-pointers and has a team-leading 50 assists. Zyan Collins, a 6'4" junior guard, comes in at 16.9 ppg. and 5.8 rpg.  Preston Boswell (13.4 ppg.) and Keith Palek III (10.0 ppg.) wrap up the starting lineup.
 
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon will be very busy for the next month. The Golden Knights play on every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for the next four weeks. On Wednesday, January 26, they host Clarion in a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at the Hammermill Center.
 
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Players Mentioned

Chris Clancy

#5 Chris Clancy

SG
6' 2"
Sophomore
Kevin Dodds

#10 Kevin Dodds

F
6' 7"
Junior
Braden Olsen

#1 Braden Olsen

PG
6' 0"
Junior
Donovan Forte

#14 Donovan Forte

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Robertas Jonaitis

#24 Robertas Jonaitis

G
6' 5"
Freshman
Ike Herster

#3 Ike Herster

G
6' 6"
Freshman
Demetrius Mims

#1 Demetrius Mims

F
6' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
Alonde LeGrand

#15 Alonde LeGrand

G/F
6' 7"
Graduate Student
Lance-Amir Paul

#40 Lance-Amir Paul

G
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Ali Ragab

#55 Ali Ragab

C
7' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Chris Clancy

#5 Chris Clancy

6' 2"
Sophomore
SG
Kevin Dodds

#10 Kevin Dodds

6' 7"
Junior
F
Braden Olsen

#1 Braden Olsen

6' 0"
Junior
PG
Donovan Forte

#14 Donovan Forte

6' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Robertas Jonaitis

#24 Robertas Jonaitis

6' 5"
Freshman
G
Ike Herster

#3 Ike Herster

6' 6"
Freshman
G
Demetrius Mims

#1 Demetrius Mims

6' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Alonde LeGrand

#15 Alonde LeGrand

6' 7"
Graduate Student
G/F
Lance-Amir Paul

#40 Lance-Amir Paul

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Ali Ragab

#55 Ali Ragab

7' 0"
Freshman
C