Alonde LeGrand vs. Seton Hill

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

Playoff-Bound Golden Knights Play Makeup Game at Clarion on Monday

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (12-12, 9-11 PSAC West) at CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (9-16, 5-15 PSAC West)  
DATE/TIME: Monday, February 21, 2022 | 5:30 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Tippin Gymnasium l Clarion, 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 46-13
In a series that first began in 1948-49, Gannon has won the last 12 meetings, including a pair of meetings four days apart in the 2020-21 season and a 75-66 win at the Highmark Events Center on January 26. The Golden Knights are 18-10 in games played at Tippin Gymnasium.        
 
Last Meeting
Jan. 26, 2022 – at Gannon 75, Clarion 66 I RECAP
Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) enjoyed a big second half to propel Gannon to the win over Clarion at the Highmark Events Center. Herster scored 16 points, with 12 of those in the second half. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) led the Golden Knights with 18 points on a variety of drives and fadeaways, and one monstrous second-half dunk over Clarion's seven-foot center. Mims added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, matching his season high. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. Donovan Forte (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights) was a fourth Golden Knight in double digits with 10 points, adding six rebounds, in 16 minutes off the bench. Clarion ahad three players score in double figures, led by Gerald Jarmon with a game-high 21 points. Lawrence Lemon added 17 points and Connor Ferrell finished with 13.
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon looks to snap a five-game losing streak following Saturday's 68-63 loss at Slippery Rock. It was the second loss to The Rock in four days, but unlike Wednesday's 71-58 loss, the Golden Knights nearly battled back in the late stages after trailing by 15 points in the second half.
 
Despite the setback, Gannon got some good news later Saturday night, as Mercyhurst defeated Edinboro, thus clinching the sixth and final berth in the PSAC West for the Golden Knights. They enter the final week of the regular season with a 12-12 ledger and 9-10 in conference play.
 
Clarion is also looking to snap an extended losing streak, suffering its sixth straight loss on Saturday, 90-60 to Cal. That left the Golden Eagles at 9-16 overall and 5-15 in the PSAC West. Gannon claimed the first meeting between the two schools on January 26, 75-66 at the Highmark Events Center. The two teams now meet at Tippin Gymnasium on Monday, February 21 at 5:30 p.m.
 
Gannon's five-game losing streak is the longest in head coach Kelvin Jefferson's tenure. However, Jefferson continues to try to patch together a lineup that has battled injuries all year. In particular, the Golden Knights have been sapped of much of their outside firepower. They did welcome back Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) on Saturday. The 6'7" graduate student missed five of the previous seven games. He played 27 minutes at SRU.
 
Gannon had navigated a brutal week earlier in February, beginning with their last win, a 67-66 upset of Pitt-Johnstown on February 7. Their next two contests came against nationally-ranked Mercyhurst, ranked 20th at the time, and Indiana(Pa.), who was ranked seventh.
 
The latter loss saw Gannon's hottest player, Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn), go down with an injury. The 6'0" redshirt junior has missed the last three games after averaging 19.0 ppg. in the previous six games. In addition, Jefferson has had to make do without second-leading scorer Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), who has now missed eight straight games and 12 in all this season.
 
Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) have tried to pick things up in the absence of Herster, Olsen, and Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's). Paul leads Gannon in scoring at 17.7 ppg., good for ninth in the PSAC. The 6'0" guard has reached double figures against every team he has played against this season not named IUP. The Crimson Hawks held him to six points in each of the meetings. All told, he has reached double digits in 21 of 23 games, with eight games of 20-or-more points after scoring 22 points at Slippery Rock. He scored 32 points vs. Seton Hill. Though just six-feet tall, Paul leads the Knights in rebounding at 6.5 rpg., adding a team-high 79 assists and standing second in steals with 29.
 
Mims, a 6'6" redshirt sophomore, has run off five straight games in double figures, averaging 17.0 points during that period. That includes his third 20-point game of the season at Slippery Rock, scoring 25 points. Mims has boosted his scoring average to 12.2 ppg. He adds 6.3 rpg. with a team-high 31 steals and 18 blocked shots. Mims is the only Golden Knight to start all 24 games.
 
Olsen had picked up the scoring load with Herster unavailable. Herster, a 6'6" redshirt freshman, averages 16.2 ppg.  Olsen scored 28 points at Mercyhurst after hitting for 30 vs. Edinboro. He had boosted his season average to 12.1 ppg. Olsen adds 54 assists and has made 22 of 52 3-pointers.
 
Several other players continue to make important contributions. LeGrand averages 7.3 ppg. and 6.2 rpg. in 18 contests. Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School), a 6'5" redshirt freshman, is averaging 6.0 ppg., with Donovan Forte (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights), a 6'6" redshirt junior, adding 5.2 ppg. Defensive standouts Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) have started 21 and 14 games, respectively. Pickens scored a career-high 10 points in the first meeting with Slippery Rock, hitting a pair of 3-pointers late in the game to help the team rally.
 
Finally, seven-foot freshman Ali Ragab (Cairo, Egypt/Rocktop Academy) continues to blossom in the pivot. He had his fourth game with double-figure rebounds, pulling down 10 against Edinboro. He averages 3.9 ppg. and 4.1 rpg. with a team-high 28 blocked shots.
 
Gannon has a pair of games the final week of the regular season. Following Monday's game at Clarion the Golden Knights wrap up the regular season hosting Cal U on Saturday, February 26. The previous four weeks Gannon had played every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. They finally catch a "breather" this week, having Wednesday off following the makeup date at Clarion.
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC STATS
Scoring Offense – 73.1 (13th)                                                                                    
Scoring Defense – 71.5 (6th)                                    
Field Goal Pct. -- .451 (8th)                                                                                                                                                          
Field Goal Pct. Defense -- .417 (4th)                       
3 FGM per Game – 5.5 (17th)                                                                                                     
Rebound Margin -- +4.5 (5th)                                                                                                                    
Turnover Margin -- -1.4 (12th)           
 
MIMS PICKING UP THE PACE
With plenty of scoring punch out with injuries, Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) has picked up his game of late. The 6'6" redshirt sophomore, a transfer from Towson, is second in points scored (292) while averaging 12.2 ppg., which stands third. Mims is averaging 17.0 ppg. over the last five games, including 19 and 25-point efforts vs. Slippery Rock in the last two games. He made 9 of 14 field goals, and also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds to go with three assists and a pair of blocked shots on Wednesday, the was 10 of 22 from the floor and 5 of 7 from the line on Saturday, adding a team-high seven boards.
 
PICKENS REGISTERS CAREER HIGH IN FIRST MEETING WITH SRU
Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) accomplished a pair of firsts on Wednesday vs. Slippery Rock. The redshirt freshman guard from nearby Cathedral Prep never left the court, playing all 40 minutes for the first time in his career. More importantly, he scored a career-high 10 points, making 4 of 8 field goals, including 2 of 3 3-pointers. Pickens, a defensive standout, has now started seven straight games and has been in the starting lineup 14 times overall.                  
 
ALMOST A CLASSIC COMEBACK
With just over six minutes remaining in the first half Gannon found itself trailing 33-13 at Edinboro. The Fighting Scots came out on fire, and had made five 3-pointers by that time. Gannon would climb back to within 12 points at the half at 41-29. The deficit was still 15 points at 57-42 seven minutes into the second half, but the Golden Knights proceeded to close to 67-60 on an Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) layup with 6:34 to play. They would make it six points with 77-71 when Ali Ragab (Cairo, Egypt/Rocktop Academy) followed up his own miss, and 40 seconds still remained. Edinboro would make a pair of free throws to finally hold off what was almost the top rally in many years.
 
THREE-POINT FIELD STREAK ALMOST COMES TO AN END
The last time Gannon failed to make a 3-pointer in a game was January 8, 2011 in an 85-66 loss at Cheyney. The Golden Knights went 0-for-4 that day. On Saturday vs. IUP, they were 1 of 13, missing the first 12 attempts before Zach Cavanagh (Erie, Pa./McDowell) buried a three with 1:32 remaining. Gannon has now made at least one 3-pointer in 313 straight games. (Thanks for research assistance from Tom Reisenweber of Erie Times News).
 
OLSEN BOOSTS THE BACKCOURT BEFORE GOING DOWN WITH INJURY
The first IUP game signaled the resurrection of Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn). The redshirt junior guard had seen his playing time reduced in recent games, but he would receive 21 minutes at IUP and finish with 12 points. Since then, he dropped in a career-high 30 points against Edinboro, followed by 11 points vs. Seton Hill, 23 against Pitt-Johnstown on Monday, and a 28-point effort in the second meeting with Mercyhurst. Olsen was averaging 19.0 points over the last six games after scoring 10 points vs. IUP. He was 13 of 20 on 3-pointers over that span, along with handing out 23 assists and even pulling down 26 rebounds. He has missed the last three games with an injury.
 
GANNON, UPJ EXCHANGE RUNS, LAST-SECOND VICTORIES
The recent 67-66 win over Pitt-Johnstown was the second time in ten days the two teams played a game decided in the final second. Gannon held a 43-29 lead at the half and extended the advantage to 20 points early in the second half. Thirteen minutes later, UPJ was ahead by six points at 63-47. The game featured runs of 15-0 by Gannon, 10-0 by UPJ, 12-0 by Gannon (part of a 19-2 burst), and 18-0 by UPJ! The final run was six straight points by the Golden Knights that ended with just under a minute to play on Lance-Amir Paul's (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) layup and a 67-64 lead. UPJ made one of two free throws to close to 67-65, and after a Gannon turnover, the Mountain Cats missed a shot but it was hauled in by John Paul Kromka who was fouled with 0.4 seconds remaining. He would miss the first free throw, and the second went in as he tried to miss it. Ten days earlier, Kromka hit the game-winning layup for an 81-79 win with 0.9 seconds left.
 
OLSEN, PAUL ACCOUNT FOR CONSECUTIVE 30-POINT GAMES
One game after Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) deposited a career-high 30 points for the Golden Knights, the first 30-point effort by a Gannon player since the 2016-17 season, Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) bettered that. The 6'0" redshirt sophomore scored a season-high 32 points against Seton Hill. He made 9 of 17 field goals, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and was 10 of 11 at the line. Paul added a game-high eight rebounds and handed out six assists. He has now scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games he has played in, and has had seven games with 20-or-more points. Olsen's 30-point game came recently vs. Edinboro. The 6'0" redshirt junior made 7 of 12 field goals, including 3 of 5 3-pointers, along with 13 of 18 free throws. Olsen added eight rebounds and four assists. The 30-point effort was the first for a Gannon player since Matthew Dogan scored 30 points against Pitt-Johnstown during the 2016-17 season.  Paul's 32 points are the most by a Gannon player since Jean Toupane scored 32 against Edinboro in 2015-16.
              
OFFENSE COMES ALIVE WITH BACK-TO-BACK 90-POINT GAMES
Gannon scored 90-or-more points in back-to-back games against Edinboro and Seton Hill, the second time this year with back-to-back 90-point efforts. In all, the Golden Knights have reached the 90-point plateau five times. That's the most since the 2011-12 squad scored 90-or-more points seven times. In addition, Gannon shot 50.0 percent from the floor vs. Edinboro and followed that up with a 54.1 percent effort vs. Seton Hill. They made 20 of 39 3-pointers in the two games.
 
DRAWING 21's
Before missing the last eight games with an injury, Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) had broken out of an abbreviated shooting slump in a big way. The redshirt freshman guard averaged 19.3 ppg. over the last three contests he played in to boost his scoring average to 16.2 ppg. He scored 21 points in the first meeting with UPJ, and came back with another 21-point effort at IUP. He made three 3-pointers in both games. A year ago Herster averaged 12.1 ppg, with 31 3-pointers while playing in all 14 games. It has been an up-and-down campaign for the 6'6" guard, the down coming in the form of maladies that have forced him to miss six games. After missing the Mercyhurst and Seton Hill games, he returned but struggled to find his shooting touch against East Stroudsburg and Cal.
 
GANNON HAS NOW USED EIGHT DIFFERENT STARTING LINEUPS
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 eight different lineup combinations, although Jefferson has employed the same starting five over the last eight contests. The most-used combination has been Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire), Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy), and Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan). That quintet has posted a 6-3 record. Mims is the only Golden Knight to start all 24 games. Ten different players have started at least one game.
 
Starting Five Combinations
Paul, Mims, Herster, LeGrand, Dodds – 6-3
Paul, Mims, Jonaitis, Pickens, Dodds -- 3-5           
Mims, Paul, Forte, Pickens, LeGrand – 1-1
Paul, Clancy, Mims, Pickens, Dodds – 1-0
Mims, Paul, LeGrand, Dodds, Pickens – 1-0
Mims, Clancy, Olsen, Dodds, Pickens – 0-1
Mims, Paul, Herster, Jonaitis, Forte – 0-1
Paul, Herster, Mims, Dodds, Pickens – 0-1
 
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 for his performance in the first meeting with Seton Hill, winning 63-53. 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.
 
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.
 
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 (9-16, 5-15 PSAC West) lost its sixth straight game on Saturday, falling 90-60 at Cal. The Golden Eagles come in averaging 72.6 ppg. while allowing 79.6 ppg. Head coach Damian Pitts relies on a trio of double-figure scorers who account for 62 percent of the team's output. Gerald Jarmon ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 19.9 ppg. The 6'0" sophomore has made 50 of 146 3-pointers. He scored 51 points against Edinboro earlier this month. Connor Ferrell, a 6'4" senior guard, adds 15.3 ppg. with 5.0 rpg. He has made 35 of 96 3-pointers. Lawrence Lemon is the third double-figure operative at 11.5 ppg. A 6'7" graduate student, he adds 5.5 rpg. and has stepped outside to hit 31 of 99 3-pointers.
 
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon concludes the regular season on Saturday, February 26 hosting Cal. Tipoff at the Highmark Events Center is 3:00 p.m.
 
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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
Alfonso Pickens Jr.

#4 Alfonso Pickens Jr.

PG
6' 1"
Freshman
Demetrius Mims

#1 Demetrius Mims

F
6' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
Zach Cavanagh

#12 Zach Cavanagh

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Alonde LeGrand

#15 Alonde LeGrand

G/F
6' 7"
Graduate Student

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
Alfonso Pickens Jr.

#4 Alfonso Pickens Jr.

6' 1"
Freshman
PG
Demetrius Mims

#1 Demetrius Mims

6' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Zach Cavanagh

#12 Zach Cavanagh

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Alonde LeGrand

#15 Alonde LeGrand

6' 7"
Graduate Student
G/F