AP
71
Winner Slippery Rock SRU 14-10,10-8 PSAC
58
Gannon Gannon 12-11,9-10 PSAC
Winner
Slippery Rock SRU
14-10,10-8 PSAC
71
Final
58
Gannon Gannon
12-11,9-10 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock SRU 31 40 71
Gannon Gannon 24 34 58

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

Depleted Golden Knights Drop First of Two to Slippery Rock

ERIE, Pa. – Due to an early COVID postponement, Gannon and Slippery Rock met for the first of back-to-back games on Wednesday night at the Highmark Events Center, with SRU handing the Golden Knights a 71-58 setback. Gannon must wait another day to clinch a spot in the PSAC Tournament and is now 12-11 and 9-10 in the PSAC West. The win landed Slippery Rock (14-10, 10-8) a spot in the postseason tournament.   

Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) and Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) led Gannon with 19 and 18 points, respectively, while Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) was also in double digits with 10 points. Unfortunately, head coach Kelvin Jefferson had too many points sitting at the end of the bench in street clothes as he is down to a seven-man rotation.  Mims made 9 of 14 field goals and led Gannon with seven rebounds, along with Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School). Mims also had three assists, two blocks and a steal.

The Rock led 31-24 at the half, built Gannon would cut a nine-point deficit down to three points at 37-34 on a drive by Mims with 14:22 remaining. SRU followed with a 26-8 run, capped by 12 straight points to go ahead 63-42 with 5:26 left to play.

Just as they did on Monday night at Edinboro, the Golden Knights staged a late rally, scoring eight straight points to pull to within 11 at 64-53 with 1:41 left. Pickens and Mims scored on layups, and Paul followed with a pair of free throws and a jumper. Unfortunately, SRU made 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to hold off Gannon.

Gannon ended the night shooting 44.4 percent (24 of 54), making 3 of 15 3-pointers as they have made six shots from beyond the arc over the last three games. The Golden Knights made 7 of 10 free throws. SRU shot 44.6 percent (25 of 56), making 7 of 24 3-pointers, and was 14 of 16 at the line.



The two teams came in as two of the top rebounding outfits in the PSAC, with SRU finishing with a 35-27 advantage. Gannon committed 17 turnovers and SRU 15.     

Frankie Hughes captured game honors for Slippery Rock with 21 points. Tyler Frederick had a double double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Amante Britt had 10 points.

Gannon and Slippery Rock will play game two of their doubleheader on Saturday, February 19 at Morrow Field House, with tipoff set for 3:00 p.m. A Golden Knight victory or Edinboro loss will clinch the sixth and final playoff berth.
 
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