Kevin Dodds vs. Lock Haven
Sean Gallagher

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

Home Sweet Home! Gannon Hosts Clarion on Wednesday

CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (7-8, 4-7 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (8-5, 5-4 PSAC West)   
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Gary Miller Court at the Hammermill Center l Erie, 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.
 
THE GANNON-CLARION ALL-TIME SERIES
Gannon leads 45-13
In a series that first began in 1948-49, Gannon has won the last 11 meetings, including a pair of meetings four days apart in the 2020-21 season. On Feb. 10, Gannon claimed a 72-60 decision at Clarion behind 15 points from Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), one of four Knights in double digits. On Feb. 13, Gannon was an 83-63 winner at the Hammermill Center. The Golden Knights have won the last 22 meetings with Clarion at the Hammermill Center and are 28-3 all-time at home in the series. Clarion last won at the 'Mill in 1981-82.       
 
Last Meeting
Feb. 13, 2021 – at Gannon 83, Clarion 63 I RECAP
After trailing by a point at the half, Gannon netted 51 points in the second half to complete the series sweep of Clarion, 83-63, at the Hammermill Center. Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) paced the Golden Knights with a team-high 19 points. Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) added 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Cyril Ogbuagu came off the bench to contribute 13 points and nine rebounds. Gannon held a 41-31 rebounding edge.
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – While the month of January is almost over, Gannon plays just its second game at the Hammermill Center in 2022, hosting Clarion in a 7:30 p.m. tip off on Wednesday, January 26. The Golden Knights have not played at home since January 5 when they opened the New Year hosting Mercyhurst, Since that time they have managed to get in just three games, going almost two weeks without playing.
 
Returning to the Hammermill Center couldn't come at a better time for a Gannon team that has lost two games in a row while battling shooting woes as cold as the weather outside. Head coach Kelvin Jefferson has had to overcome a series of injuries and several periods of inactivity.
 
Gannon comes off an 80-59 loss at Cal on Monday as they began a stretch of three games a week for the next four weeks. That came after a long trip to East Stroudsburg on Saturday. Gannon has an 8-5 record and is 5-4 in the PSAC West.
 
The Golden Knights host a Clarion team that has a 7-8 record and is 3-7 in conference play following a 101-90 win at Bloomsburg on Monday. That snapped a four-game skid for the Golden Eagles. They trailed by five at the half, then outscored the Huskies 66-50 in a wild second half.
 
Gannon has enjoyed great success against Clarion over the years, particularly at the Hammermill Center. The Knights have won the last 22 meetings on their homecourt and are 28-3 all-time in the 'Mill.
 
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 now only short outside sharpshooter Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's). The guard has been able to play in just five games this season.
 
Four Golden Knights are scoring in double digits. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) leads the way at 17.3 ppg. after registering his fourth 20-point effort of the season with 24 points at Cal. He is also the team's assist leader with 49. 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 at East Stroudsburg.
 
Herster, a 6'6" redshirt freshman, is averaging 15.1 ppg. while looking to find his rhythm after returning two games ago. He has been limited to 11 points against ESU and Cal. Herster has made a team-high 20 3-pointers in 62 attempts while playing in nine games. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) is the lone Golden Knight to play in all 13 games. The 6'6" redshirt sophomore averages 12.1 ppg. and 6.3 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 7.8 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.
 
Following the Clarion contest, Gannon heads back out on the road, wrapping up the first of four straight weeks with three games each week. They playing at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, January 29, then face a makeup date at Indiana(Pa.) on Monday, February 1.
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC STATS
Scoring Offense – 75.5 (12th)                                   
Scoring Defense – 68.8 (6th)              
Field Goal Pct. -- .458 (8th)                                                          
Field Goal Pct. Defense -- .395 (2nd)       
3 FGM per Game – 5.8 (16th)     
Rebound Margin -- +6.0 (4th)                   
Turnover Margin -- -1.1 (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 ranks second in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense at 39.5 percent.
 
KNIGHTS RULE THE BOARDS
One of the keys to Gannon's success in 2021-22 has been a dominance on the glass. Gannon has now outrebounded its opponent ten times in the first 13 games. The Golden Knights rank fourth in the PSAC in rebounding margin at +6.0 per game. However, Cal held a 42-30 edge against Gannon on the glass. The Golden Knights were 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.
 
JEFFERSON EMPLOYS SIXTH DIFFERENT LINEUP AT ESU
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 13 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 13 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 recently 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. Paul has emerged as the leading scorer at 17.3 ppg., With 24 points at Cal on Monday, he now has four games with 20-or-more points. Though just 6'0", he is second on the team in rebounding at 7.5 rpg. He also leads Gannon with 49 assists. Mims, a 6'6" redshirt sophomore, stands third on the team in scoring (12.1 ppg.) and rebounding (6.3 rpg.). A 6'7" graduate student, LeGrand is the team's leading rebounder (7.8 rpg.) while contributing 8.1 ppg.
 
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 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.
 
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 CLARION  
Clarion (7-8, 3-7 PSAC West) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 101-90 victory at Bloomsburg on Monday. It was the second time this season the Golden Eagles have scored 100-or-more points. Head coach Damian Pitts relies on a trio of double-figure scorers who account for sixty percent of the team's 73.9 ppg. Gerald Jarmon leads the way at 17.5 ppg. after scoring a career-high 30 points at Bloomsburg. The 6'0" sophomore has made 25 of 76 3-pointers. Connor Ferrell, a 6'4" senior guard, adds 16.1 ppg. with 5.2 rpg. He has made 24 of 66 3-pointers. Lawrence Lemon is the third double-figure operative at 11.6 ppg. A 6'7" graduate student, he leads Clarion in rebounding (5.9 rpg.) and has stepped outside to hit 19 of 56 3-pointers.
 
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
After playing at home for the first time in three weeks, Gannon heads back out on the highways with back-to-back games against the top two teams in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights play at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, January 29, with tipoff at 3:00 p.m. That's followed by a contest on Monday, Jan. 31 at Indiana (Pa.).
 
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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