Robertas Jonaitis vs. UPJ

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

Gannon Hosts Hot Vulcans to Wrap Up Regular Season

CAL U VULCANS (20-7, 15-6 PSAC West) GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (13-12, 10-11 PSAC West)  
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 26, 2022 | 3:00 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Gary Miller Court at the Highmark Events Center l Erie, 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-CAL U ALL-TIME SERIES
Gannon leads 21-17
Gannon has won seven of the last 11 meetings, but the Vulcans have claimed the last two contests, both on their homecourt. Cal won an 80-59 decision on January 24, and in 2019-20 the two teams met in a first round PSAC Tournament game, with Cal prevailing 74-58. That was the second game in three days at Cal, with Gannon winning two days earlier, 82-71. The series first began in 1949-50.   
 
Last Meeting
Jan. 24, 2022 -- at Cal U 80, Gannon 59 I RECAP
Cal used an 18-2 run in the first half to jump out to a 45-23 halftime lead. The Golden Knights were never able to catch up although Gannon did outscore the Vulcans by a point in the second half, at one point going on an 18-5 run. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) led the Golden Knights with 24 points, making 9 of 16 shots, including 2 of 6 3-pointers, and going 4 of 5 from the line. He added a team high eight rebounds. Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) was also in double digits with 13 points. All five Cal starters reached double figures, accounting for 70 of the team's 80 points. Philip Alston led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Preston Boswell contributed 16 points. Brent Pegram, Zyan Collins and Keith Palek III all had 12 points .
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon closes out the regular season hosting a scorching hot Cal U team on Saturday, February 26. Both teams have qualified for the upcoming PSAC Tournament, and could actually meet again in a first round game on Monday, February 28.
 
The Golden Knights staged a remarkable turnaround at Clarion on Monday to snap a five-game losing streak, the longest during head coach Kelvin Jefferson's three-year reign. Gannon trailed by 18 points at 39-21 late in the first half. They closed the gap to 12 points at the half, then took control of the game with a 21-2 run to start the second half. When it was all said and done, Gannon had a 32-point turnaround, winning by a 14-point margin at 79-65 and outscoring Clarion 48-22 over the final 20 minutes.
 
Gannon is locked into the sixth seed in the Western Division with a 13-12 overall record and 10-11 in the league. Cal is still jockeying for the second seed and a bye on Monday. The Vulcans edged Mercyhurst, 79-76, on Wednesday to improve to 20-7 and 15-6 in the PSAC West. They have won five of their last six games, including wins over Pitt-Johnstown and Mercyhurst.
 
Indiana(Pa.) has clinched the number one seed in the Western Division, with Cal, Mercyhurst and UPJ battling for the second seed. Mercyhurst and UPJ are 16-5, with UPJ playing at IUP and the Lakers hosting Slippery Rock on Saturday.
 
Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) have both stepped up in recent games to boost a short-handed Golden Knight squad. Gannon also benefited from the return of Alonde LeGrand (Harlem, N.Y./Berkshire) last Saturday at Mercyhurst.
 
Paul dropped in a season-high 34 points at Clarion, making 13 of 18 field goals, including a 5-for-6 showing from beyond the 3-point arc. The 6'0" redshirt sophomore now has two games of 30-or-more points and nine games with 20-or-more points in his first season as a Golden Knight. He has scored in double figures in 22 of 24 games. Paul ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring at 18.4 ppg., along with leading the team in assists (80) and steals (32), along with first in rebounds per game (6.5) and second in rebounds (156).
 
Mims has scored in double figures in six straight games. During that period, the 6'6" transfer from Towson is averaging 16.7 ppg. and 6.7 rpg. For the season, Mims is averaging 12.3 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. He had 25 points and seven rebounds last Saturday at Slippery Rock. He is the only player to start all 25 games.
 
Several other players continue to make important contributions. LeGrand averages 7.3 ppg. and 6.2 rpg. in 19 contests. Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School), a 6'5" redshirt freshman, comes off one of his best games with 11 points and nine rebounds at Clarion. He is averaging 6.2 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 22 and 15 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. He added eight points at Clarion, all part of the decisive 21-2 run.
 
Gannon continues to play without Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) and Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn). Herster, a 6'6" redshirt freshman, averages 16.2 ppg. but has now missed the last nine games and has played in just 12 games this year.  Olsen has now missed the last four games after boosting his scoring average to 12.1 ppg. He adds 54 assists and has made 22 of 52 3-pointers.
 
Following Saturday's game vs. Cal, Gannon will make its second appearance in the PSAC Tournament under Jefferson. They know they will play on the road on Monday, February 28, but where will not be decided until later in the day on Saturday.
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC STATS
Scoring Offense – 73.4 (12th)                                                                                                    
Scoring Defense – 71.2 (6th)                                    
Field Goal Pct. -- .452 (8th)                                                                                                                                                         
Field Goal Pct. Defense -- .416 (4th)
3 FGM per Game – 5.7 (17th)                                                                                                    
Rebound Margin -- +4.3 (5th)                                                                                                                                         
Turnover Margin -- -1.2 (12th)          
 
GANNON PART OF PSAC PLAYOFF FIELD
The Golden Knights have qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the second time under head coach Kelvin Jefferson and for the tenth time since joining the PSAC in 2008-09. Gannon has won the tournament championship twice, in their initial season in the conference in 2008-09, and again in 2014-15. The Golden Knights played at Cal in Jefferson's first year in the first round of the 2020 PSAC Tournament, dropping a 74-58 decision.
 
GOLDEN KNIGHTS STAGE A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES AT CLARION
With just under four minutes to play in the first half on Monday, Gannon found itself trailing the Golden Eagles 39-21 and appeared on their way to a sixth straight defeat. As they have done in recent games, they climbed back to within 12 points at the half at 43-31. Whatever head coach Kelvin Jefferson said at halftime, it certainly worked. The Golden Knights opened the second half with 14 straight points, part of a 21-2 run, taking the lead for good at 45-43 with 16:49 remaining on Demetrius Mims' (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) jumper in the paint. Clarion would tie the game at 45-45, but Gannon grabbed the lead for good with the next seven points. When it was all said and done, Gannon won 79-65, outscoring Clarion 48-22 in the second half. That's a turnaround of 32 points! Thanks to the efforts of Gannon historian and official scorer Rick "Stats" Klapthor, here are some other big comebacks.  
 
Feb. 8, 1992 – at Mercyhurst -- losing by 22, won 70-65
Jan. 14, 1995 – vs. St. Vincent -- losing by 17, won 78-64
Feb. 22, 1997 – vs. Hillsdale -- losing by 23 in second half, won 90-86 in overtime
Jan. 27, 2010 – vs. Edinboro -- trailed by 17, won 61-60
Feb. 8, 2012 – at Edinboro -- trailed by 16, won 77-73 in overtime
 
THREE FOR 30
Gannon has had three 30-point efforts this season. Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) has a pair, scoring 34 points vs. Clarion this past Monday and dropping in 32 points against Seton Hill on February 5. Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) scored 30 points vs. Edinboro on February 2. Paul's 34 points were the most by a Golden Knight since Adam Blazek scored 37 points at Clarion on February 11, 2012. He made 13 of 18 shots and was 5 of 6 on 3-pointers in his 34-point effort. Paul is the first player to score 30 points in two games in a season since Matt Dogan had 30 in two games during the 2016-17 season. The last time Gannon had three games of 30-or-more points as a team was in 2003-04 when Geoff Husted reached the mark three times.
 
PAUL THE 20-POINT MAN
When Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy) scored a season-high 34 points on Monday at Clarion, it was his ninth game with 20-or-more points. Zay Jackson was the last player to score 20-or-more points in nine games in a season, that coming in 2017-18. He did it 10 times in 2016-17, as did Matt Dogan. Adam Blazek accomplished the fete ten times in 2013-14, with Darrell Blanton doing it ten times in 2011-12. Over the last 20 years, Kyle Goldcamp has the most 20-point games with 11 in 2008-09. Paul, a 6'0" redshirt sophomore, ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring at 18.4 ppg.
 
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 (307) while averaging 12.3 ppg., which stands third. Mims is averaging 16.7 ppg. over the last six games, including 19 and 25-point efforts vs. Slippery Rock. He is also averaging 6.7 rpg. over that span. He had 15 points and nine boards in Monday's comeback win at Clarion. 

JONAITIS THE LITHUANIAN JUMPER
Earlier in the year injuries forced Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) into a more extended role. The redshirt freshman, who is best known for his highlight-reel slam dunks, has become an integral part of the lineup in recent games. He has started the last nine games and comes off an 11-point, nine-rebound effort at Clarion, making 4 of 6 field goals. Five of his rebounds came on the offensive end. The nine rebounds matches his career high, and he has now reached double figures in five games. He is averaging 6.2 ppg. and 3.9 rpg.      
 
PICKENS REGISTERS CAREER HIGH IN FIRST MEETING WITH SRU
Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) accomplished a pair of firsts on February 16 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. He scored a career-high 10 points, making 4 of 8 field goals, including 2 of 3 3-pointers. On Monday at Clarion, he keyed Gannon's 21-2 run to start the second half, scoring all eight of his points. His biggest contribution came on defense, holding Clarion's leading scorer, Gerald Jarmon, to five points in the second half. Pickens has now started nine straight games and has been in the starting lineup 15 times overall.                 
 
THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL 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).
 
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) (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.
              
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 nine 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 USES EIGHT DIFFERENT STARTING LINEUPS IN 2021-22
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 settled on the same starting five over the last nine contests. That group has been Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), Alfonso Pickens Jr. (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School), Lance-Amir Paul (Kingston, Jamaica/Putnam Science Academy), and Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan). Mims is the only Golden Knight to start all 25 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 -- 4-5          
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 CAL 
Cal has run off five wins in its last six games to improve to 20-7 overall and 15-6 in the PSAC West. The Vulcans come off a 79-76 win over Mercyhurst on Wednesday. They've climbed to fourth in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings. Head coach Danny Sancomb is in his fourth year at Cal and has assembled a high-scoring, athletic outfit, with four of five starters scoring in double figures. Cal ranks third in the PSAC in scoring at 83.1 ppg., along with second in field goal percentage defense (.416) and sixth in rebound margin (+4.3). Philip Alston and Brent Pegram rank as two of the top eight scorers in the PSAC. Alston, a 6'6" sophomore forward, not only leads the conference in scoring at 21.1 ppg., but is also the top rebounder at 10.6 rpg. and leads the PSAC in blocked shots (53). He is shooting 54.1 percent from the floor. Pegram, a 5'11" senior guard who is a two-time All-PSAC West selection, adds 18.0 ppg., eighth in the PSAC, and 5.0 rpg. He has made 56 of 174 3-pointers and has a team-leading 117 assists. Zyan Collins, a 6'4" junior guard, comes in at 14.8 ppg. and 5.8 rpg.  Preston Boswell (11.9 ppg.) and Keith Palek III (9.3 ppg., 7.9 rpg.) wrap up the starting lineup.
 
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon will play a first-round PSAC Tournament game on Monday, February 28. The opponent and time will be determined at the conclusion of Saturday's games. The Golden Knights have clinched the sixth seed in the PSAC West.
 
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Players Mentioned

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
Lance-Amir Paul

#40 Lance-Amir Paul

G
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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
Lance-Amir Paul

#40 Lance-Amir Paul

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
G