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

Gannon, Mercyhurst Clash in Showdown of Crosstown Rivals

No. 7/8 MERCYHURST LAKERS (10-1, 4-1 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (7-2, 4-1 PSAC West)
Sponsored by Molly Brannigan's - A Modern Irish Pub
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, January 5, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: 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-MERCYHURST ALL-TIME SERIES
Gannon leads 54-28 I ALL-TIME SERIES SCORES
While Gannon holds a sizeable advantage in the all-time series which first began in the 1974-75 season, the Golden Knights are looking to snap a six-game losing streak to Mercyhurst. Four of those six wins have come by seven points or less. The Lakers claimed both meetings in last year's COVID-shortened season, prevailing 83-61 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, then posting a 73-66 decision at the Hammermill Center a week later.
 
Last Year's Meetings: 
Feb. 20, 2021 – No. 6/16 Mercyhurst 83, Gannon 61 I RECAP
In the first meeting, the Lakers jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and were never really challenged in the second half. Turnovers proved Gannon's major undoing, as the Golden Knights committed 21 miscues compared to 10 for Mercyhurst. That led to a 29-11 advantage in points off turnovers for the Lakers. Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) led Gannon with 15 points. Mercyhurst had four players in double digits, with MiyKah McIntosh totaling 20 points and Steve Cannady 16.
 
Feb. 27, 2021 – No. 4/16 Mercyhurst 73, No. 22 Gannon 66 I RECAP
Meeting number two was played at the Hammermill Center. With Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) back at point guard Gannon turned the ball over just seven times. Mercyhurst held an 11-point lead at the half at 38-27, and GU's deficit rose to 21 points before the Golden Knights staged a spirited rally. Thanks to a 9-0 run, Gannon closed to within 58-51 with just under five minutes to play on a pair of Olsen free throws, but could pull no closer. Olsen paced four Knights in double figures with 20 points, while Dodds contributed 18, Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) 14 and Cyril Ogbuagu 10. Danny Ogele paced the Lakers with 20 points.
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon closed 2021 with three straight wins and now looks to extend that streak into 2022 while ending a six-game losing streak to crosstown-rival Mercyhurst. Tipoff at the Hammermill Center is set for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5.  The contest begins rivalry week for the Golden Knights. Following the Mercyhurst game Gannon will make the short trek down I-79 to face their other Erie County rival, playing at Edinboro on Saturday, January 8. The Mercyhurst contest closes a four-game homestand for Gannon. Three of the next four games after that are on the road.

Wednesday's game is sponsored by Molly Brannigan's of Downtown Erie. Molly Brannigan's, a modern Irish pub, is a longtime sponsor of the Gannon University Department of Athletics. Wednesday is also a Chick-Fil-A promotional day at the Hammermill Center. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive a coupon for free Chick-Fil-A.
 
Gannon and Mercyhurst are part of a four-way tie for second place in the PSAC West along with Indiana(Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown with 4-1 records, with Slippery Rock sitting at 5-0 as divisional play begins.
 
The Golden Knights picked up wins over Mansfield and Bloomsburg the last time they took the court on December 18 & 19 to improve to 7-2. They defeated Mansfield, 93-72, and the next day recorded an impressive 81-53 victory over Bloomsburg.
 
Mercyhurst, meanwhile, had climbed to third in the NABC Division II Top 25 while opening the season with ten straight wins. The Lakers tasted defeat for the first time in their last outing, dropping an 85-72 decision to East Stroudsburg, and come in with a 10-1 record. Their closest game prior to that was 12 points. The 85 points allowed were the most since an 87-85 win over Millersville in November 2019.
 
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC STATS
Scoring Offense – 81.8 (8th)                       
Scoring Defense – 69.7 (6th)                      
Field Goal Pct. -- .481 (5th)                          
Field Goal Pct. Defense -- .391 (2nd)       
3 FGM per Game – 6.6 (12th)                     
Rebound Margin -- +7.1 (4th)                     
Turnover Margin -- +0.22 (11th)                
 
DEPTH A KEY FOR GOLDEN KNIGHTS
It took until game number seven before Gannon head coach Kelvin Jefferson could call on his entire rotation. The return of last year's leading scorer, Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's), against Lock Haven following a four-game absence now leaves Jefferson with plenty of options. Jefferson can go ten-deep, with ten different players averaging 10-or-more minutes per game. Only three players have played in all nine games. Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) have started all nine games, while Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) has come off the bench in all nine contests. Jefferson received an early Christmas present with the return of Clancy. The Golden Knights welcomed back Braden OIsen at Shepherd after the point guard had missed the previous three games. Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy), and Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) have also missed games.
 
ALI DELIVERING A BIG PUNCH
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, particularly as a rim protector. Despite playing in just five games for a total of 55 minutes, the native of Cairo, Egypt leads Gannon with 15 blocked shots. He comes off his best game as a Golden Knight, finishing with a double-double vs. Bloomsburg with 15 points and 11 rebounds while playing a season-high 19 minutes. He added three blocked shots and has blocked at least three shots in each of his last four games.
 
HERSTER STEPPING UP
Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) was another of the Golden Knights who missed time early in the season. The 6'6" redshirt freshman missed the first two games with an injury but has been on fire since. He has scored in double figures in all seven games he has played in and is averaging a team-high 17.9 ppg. He is also the top 3-point threat with 17 made in 49 attempts.  The former Kennedy Catholic standout scored a season-high 23 points against Mansfield. He averaged 12.1 ppg. a year ago in 14 contests.
 
CLANCY BACK AFTER FOUR-GAME ABSENCE
The rust was a bit apparent in his signature 3-point shot, but Gannon welcomed back Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) against Lock Haven. The redshirt sophomore guard had missed the previous four games with an injury. He would play 21 minutes and score six points courtesy of a pair of 3-pointers. Clancy was Gannon's leading scorer a year ago at 13.5 ppg. and is one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC. He made 47-of-103 triples in 14 games in 2020-21.  
 
LEGRAND IS GRAND AT SHIP
Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) recorded his second double-double of the season at Shippensburg. The 6'7" graduate student scored 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, both season highs. He made 6-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-5 3-pointers, after missing all six of his shots the night before at Shepherd. A transfer from North Florida, he is averaging 8.4 ppg. and holds the team lead with 7.6 rpg.
 
OLSEN RETURNS ON EASTERN SWING
Gannon welcomed back Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) in the eastern swing to West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Olsen contributed 13 points in 25 minutes at Shepherd, and added 10 markers in 21 minutes at Shippensburg. On the season he is averaging 10.5 ppg. in six contests, and ranks second on the team with 25 assists despite missing four games. He has committed just 11 turnovers. The former transfer from Seattle Pacific played in 10 games a year ago, averaging 13.4 ppg. with a team-high 58 assists.   
 
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 (12.3 ppg.) and rebounding (6.8 rpg.). A 6'7" graduate student, LeGrand is the team's leading rebounder (7.6 rpg.) while contributing 8.4 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 not only is GU's second-leading scorer at 16.1 ppg., but is also second in rebounding at 7.3 rpg. He also leads Gannon with 36 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.
 
RENEWING ACQUAINTANCES WITH OLD CONFERENCE FOES
Gannon's early-season schedule had an interesting twist to it. Three of the first four opponents came against teams that Gannon faced as a member of another conference. The first two opponents, Ashland and Saginaw Valley State, were members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while Gannon and Saint Michael's both belonged to the Mideast Collegiate Conference in the 1990's.
 
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) (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) paced the Golden Knights with 11 points, while Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) (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) (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) chipped in with 16 points and Paul had 10. 
 
SCOUTING MERCYHURST
Mercyhurst started the season with ten straight wins before suffering an 85-72 loss to East Stroudsburg in its last game on December 19. The Lakers had climbed to third in the NABC Division II Top 25 prior to that, and now come in ranked seventh. Head coach Gary Manchel's team was picked to finish second in the PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Lakers are renowned for their defensive play, and rightfully so. They lead the PSAC in scoring defense at 62.6 ppg., good for 17th in Division II. In addition, they force 20.3 turnovers per game, which leads the PSAC and ranks fourth in Division II. Mercyhurst also ranks first in the conference and second nationally in turnover margin (+10.09). But the Lakers are also proficient offensively, standing fourth in the PSAC at 85.9 ppg. Mercyhurst showcases a deep team with a strong backcourt, with three of the top four scorers guards. MiyKah McIntosh, a 5'11" senior, recently went over 1,000 career points and leads the team in scoring at 15.3 ppg. He is also is the top 3-point threat with 25 3's in 64 attempts, and has 25 assists and 21 steals.  Steve Cannady, a 6'1" senior and former transfer from Wheeling Jesuit, is next at 13.8 ppg. and is shooting 51.3 percent from the floor. Michael Bradley, a 6'5" junior, adds 9.8 ppg. with a team-high 36 assists. Cameron Gross is the top scorer up front. A 6'5" forward, Gross is averaging 11.1 ppg. and a team-leading 5.7 rpg. He is shooting 57.7 percent from the floor.  
 
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon continues rivalry week on Saturday, January 8 heading to southern Erie County to play at Edinboro. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. The contest is the first road game for the Golden Knights since December 4 and begins a stretch of three road games in the next four contests.
 
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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
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
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