olsen
77
Gannon Gannon 12-8,9-7 PSAC
87
Winner Mercyhurst Mercy 20-4,14-4 PSAC
Gannon Gannon
12-8,9-7 PSAC
77
Final
87
Mercyhurst Mercy
20-4,14-4 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon Gannon 31 46 77
Mercyhurst Mercy 44 43 87

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

Olsen's 28 Not Enough in 87-77 Loss at No. 20 Mercyhurst

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Monday night as the Golden Knights dropped an 87-77 decision to 20th-ranked Mercyhurst at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. They dropped to 12-8 overall and 9-7 in the PSAC West while the Lakers are now 20-4 and 14-4 in league play.

As has been the case for most of the season, the Golden Knights were playing shorthanded. Second-leading scorer Ike Hester missed his third straight game and seventh game of the season, while second-leading rebounder Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) missed his second game in the last three contests.

Both backcourts enjoyed strong games as the two crosstown rivals shot over 50 percent from the floor. Gannon ended the night at 50.9 percent, while the Lakers came in 54.2 percent. Gannon made 5 of 9 3-pointers but Mercyhurst trumped that at a sizzling 12 of 19. The Golden Knights made 14 of 18 free throws and Mercyhurst was 23 of 30. Gannon won the battle of the boards, 31-27.

Gannon's backcourt tandem of Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) and Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) dueled Mercyhurst trio of guards. Olsen continued his hot shooting as the redshirt junior scored 28 points. He made 9 of 14 field goals, including a 4 of 6 showing on 3-pointers, and was 6 of 6 at the line. He added four assists. Paul reached double figures for the 18th time in 19 games, as the redshirt sophomore parlayed acrobatic drives to 15 points, adding five rebounds and a pair of steals.

Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) was a third Golden Knight in double digits with 12 points. Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) contributed eight points and matched his career high with nine rebounds.

MyKah McIntosh shared game scoring honors with Olsen with 28 points. The Mercyhurst senior was 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and went 12 of 15 from the line. Three other Lakers scored in double figures. Cameron Gross and Nicholas Lang had 14 points each and Jeff Planutis finished with 12 points.

The Lakers in general and McIntosh in particular came out on fire. They jumped out to an 11-2 lead on the strength of three 3-pointers. Five of Mercyhurst's first nine baskets came from beyond the arc.

Gannon grabbed its lone lead of the night thanks to a 7-0 run midway through the half. Olsen's free throws boosted Gannon on top at 16-15. But Planutis' 3-pointer 19 seconds later gave the lead back to Mercyhurst at 18-16. The Lakers would pull away for a 44-31 lead at the half as McIntosh scored 19 points, making all six of his field goal attempts.

Mercyhurst built its lead to 15 points at 46-31 early in the second half, but the Golden Knights responded with a 19-4 run. When Olsen drained a 3-pointer with 12 minutes to play, Gannon suddenly trailed by just two at 52-50. Olsen accounted for 13 of the 19 points.

The contest would remain tight the rest of the way, but the Golden Knights were never able to reclaim the lead. Following Olsen's three, the Lakers scored the next nine points, six of those courtesy of Planutis. Gannon was able to get no closer than five points after that.

Gannon still has one game remaining this while playing the murderer's row of the PSAC West. The Golden Knights edged a Pitt-Johnstown team that was tied for first place in the division on Monday, followed by Wednesday's game at Mercyhurst. Next up is a Saturday home game with seventh-ranked Indiana(Pa.), the other team tied for first place in the PSAC West. The Hall of Fame Day contest tips off at 3:00 p.m.
 
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