chris clancy gary miller classic 2022
Matt Durisko
74
Gannon Gannon 0-6,0-2 PSAC
82
Winner West Chester WCU 5-2,1-1 PSAC
Gannon Gannon
0-6,0-2 PSAC
74
Final
82
West Chester WCU
5-2,1-1 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon Gannon 30 44 74
West Chester WCU 34 48 82

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

Scrappy Golden Knights Drop 82-74 Decision at West Chester

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) scored a season-high 16 points and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) had his second double-double of the season but the Gannon men's basketball team was unable to chalk up its first win of the season on Saturday night. The Golden Knight dropped an 82-76 decision at West Chester and are now 0-6 on the season and 0-2 in PSAC play. West Chester improved to 5-2 and is 1-1 in league action.

The two veterans along with a group of freshmen battled all night against a Golden Rams' squad that was picked to finish third in the PSAC East. Clancy continued to shake off the rust after missing all but five games a year ago. The redshirt sophomore guard enjoyed his best shooting night of the year, making 6-of-8 shots, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, for 16 points, while adding three steals.

Mims, a 6'6" redshirt junior, had 14 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late in the game. He also contributed three assists, three steals, and three blocks.
A pair of freshmen also scored in double figures as the first-year players combined for 35 points. Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) scored a season-high 15 points, with 10 in the first half. Ronny Raphael (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter), playing not for from his hometown of Philadelphia, had his top game of the season while making his third straight start at point guard. He scored 10 points, handed out seven assists and had a pair of steals.

Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)), in his second appearance of the season, contributed nine points and five rebounds in 18 minutes while battling foul trouble all night. Redshirt freshman Thomas Whitley (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) canned a pair of 3-pointers to finish with eight points. The Golden Knights played their third straight game without starting guard Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic).

Gannon shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor, but while they limited West Chester to 38.6 percent, the Golden Rams had 19 more attempts than Gannon, going 27-of-70. Gannon was 9-of-21 on 3-pointers and WCU 7-of-27. Both teams spent plenty of team at the line, with Gannon making 19-of-31 free throws and WCU 21-of-32.

West Chester held a narrow 45-42 advantage on the glass, but the Golden Rams had 18 offensive boards, resulting in a 17-9 edge in second chance points. In addition, the Golden Knights committed 22 turnovers to 9 for WCU, with the Golden Rams holding a 20-5 edge in points off turnovers.

The Golden Rams had four players score in double figures. Robert Smith led the way with 18 points, with Kyle McGee adding 17. He made 4-of-9 3-pointers. Eli Barrett had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, six on the offensive end. Joshua Walker contributed 15 markers.      

Gannon jumped out to an early 19-11 lead with 12:20 remaining in the first half on Omojafo's layup. West Chester countered with a 23-9 run as Gannon went seven minutes without a basket. The Golden Rams led 34-30 at intermission.

Gannon's deficit was still seven points at 50-43 with 14 minutes remaining, but WCU went on a 12-3 run to build its biggest lead of the night at 62-46 with 11:38 remaining.

Still trailing by 15 points, the scrappy Golden Knights went on an 8-0 run to pull to within 66-59 with 5:49 remaining when Omojafo drained a 3-pointer. On five different occasions Gannon pulled to within six points, but each time West Chester had an answer.

The Golden Knights made one lats run in the final minute. Trailing 79-71, Mims made a pair of free throws. With 22 seconds left Raphael made on-of-two free throws and Gannon had pulled to within five at 79-74, the closest it had been since halftime. The Golden Rams responded by hitting three-of-four free throws while Gannon's last two possessions resulted in a turnover and missed 3-pointer.

Gannon will get a much-needed break after the long two-game eastern swing while also breaking for final exams. The Golden knights don't return to the court until Sunday, December 18 when they host Shepherd.     
 
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