paul
79
Winner Gannon Gannon 13-12,10-11 PSAC
65
Clarion Clar 9-17,5-16 PSAC
Winner
Gannon Gannon
13-12,10-11 PSAC
79
Final
65
Clarion Clar
9-17,5-16 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon Gannon 31 48 79
Clarion Clar 43 22 65

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

Gannon Snaps Skid with Huge Comeback, Paul's 34 Points

CLARION, Pa. – Coming into Gannon's game at Clarion on Monday, one team was going to snap an extended losing streak and another was going to see its's grow. With just under four minutes remaining in the first half, it certainly appeared the Golden Knights were on their way to another loss. They found themselves trailing by 18 points at 39-21 as Clarion came out on fire.

The Golden Eagles made 7 of their first 10 3-point attempts and sprinted to the big lead. But large deficits have been nothing new to Gannon during its five-game losing streak. They had battled back in virtually every game, but too little too late. This time around, Gannon started its comeback earlier, and it turned out to be one for the ages. When it was all said and done, Gannon picked up a 79-65 win at Tippin Gymnasium to improve to 13-12 overall and 10-11 in the PSAC West. Clarion is now 9-16 and 5-16, respectively. The Golden Knights have now won the last 13 meetings with Clarion.

Gannon cut the deficit to 43-31 at the half, then jumped on the Golden Eagles to start the second half. The Golden Knights ran off the first 14 points of the half, taking their first lead of the night at 45-43 with 16:49 remaining on Demetrius Mims' (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) jumper in the paint. Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) started the second half with a 3-pointer, followed by a conventional 3-point play. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) then struck for back-to-back 3-pointers, the second pulling the Golden Knights even.

Gerald Jarmon briefly tied the game at 45 with a bucket, but Gannon proceeded to score the next seven points to make it a 21-2 run to start the second half. Pickens scored on a driving lineup, then hit from beyond the arc for three points. Paul capped the spurt with a jumper as Gannon now led 52-45 with 13:37 remaining.

Clarion would pull no closer than five points the rest of the way as Gannon shot 60.0 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes, making 18 of 30 shots, including 6 of 10 3-pointers. The defense clamped down to hold Clarion to 29.6 percent (8 of 27) as Gannon outscored the Golden Eagles 48-22 in the second half.

Gannon completed the amazing turnaround in the waning seconds as Paul scored the last of his career-high 34 points to give the Golden Knights their largest lead of the night at 14 points. In all, it amounted to a 32-point swing.

Paul enjoyed his second 30-point effort of the year after previously scoring 32 points vs. Seton Hill. The redshirt sophomore guard made 13 of 18 shots, including 6 of 7 3-pointers, and was 2-for-2 from the line. He has now had nine games with 20-or-more points. He added six rebounds and three steals while playing all 40 minutes.

Mims continued his strong play with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) fell just shy of his first career double double with 11 points and nine boards, as well. The nine rebounds tied his career high. Pickens scored all eight of his points in the decisive second-half run while playing outstanding defense in the sceond half and limiting Jarmon to five points. Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) contributed seven points and seven rebounds.

Jarmon paced Clarion with 30 points and Mason Mraz had 17. Both hit five 3-pointers as Clarion made 11 of 29 shots from beyond the arc. Mraz had seven rebounds. Jordan Agyemang was also in double figures with 12 and seven boards.

Gannon ended the evening shooting 48.4 percent (30 of 62), making 9 of 16 3-pointers and going 10 of 15 at the line. Clarion cooled off to finish at 37.9 percent (25 of 66) while going 4 of 6 at the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles would hold a slim 38-37 lead in rebounds.

After playing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for the last four weeks the Golden Knights finally get a breather. They don't return to the court again until Saturday, February 26 hosting Cal U at the Highmark Events Center. Tipoff is at 3:00 p.m. with the contest wrapping up the regular season. Gannon will then a play a PSAC Tournament first round game on Monday, February 28. They have locked up the sixth seed and will play at either Cal, Mercyhurst or Pitt-Johnstown.
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