Zach Kent vs. IUP
Bryce Dolak
79
Winner Indiana (PA) IUP 14-0,8-0 PSAC
67
Gannon Gannon 0-12,0-8 PSAC
Winner
Indiana (PA) IUP
14-0,8-0 PSAC
79
Final
67
Gannon Gannon
0-12,0-8 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Indiana (PA) IUP 38 41 79
Gannon Gannon 29 38 67

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

Young Golden Knights Growing Up Despite Loss to Top-Ranked IUP

ERIE, Pa. – While Wednesday's result was the same as the first 11 games of the season, you can definitely see a young Gannon men's basketball team growing. The Golden Knights went toe-to-toe with to-ranked Indiana (Pa.) at Highmark Events Center, with the Crimson Hawks departing with a 79-67 victory.

Gannon is now 0-12 overall and 0-8 in the PSAC West, while IUP remained undefeated at 14-0 and 8-0, respectively. The Crimson Hawks hold down the number one spot in both the NABC and D2SIDA Division rankings. A veteran IUP squad was 33-3 a year ago and reached the NCAA Division II semifinals. Included in those wins were 33-and 29-point victories over Gannon. This year only one team had stayed within a margin of less than ten points.

It was apparent early that a Gannon team that was starting three freshmen for the sixth straight game wasn't going to be pushed around. A physical first half saw the Golden Knight hold close for most of the opening twenty minutes. In addition, Gannon enjoyed a season-best shooting performance.

IUP would come out and hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a quick 6-0 lead but when Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) threw down a dunk off a Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) pass Gannon had claimed an 11-10 lead with 13:01 remaining in the first half.

The Golden Knights would lead on two more occasions by a point, the second when Thomas Whitley (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) drained a 3-pointer to cap a 5-0 run for an 18-17 advantage with 9:37 left in the first half.  

IUP responded with a 13-2 burst to take a 30-20 lead with just over five minutes remaining. They would build the lead to 14 points later in the half before Gannon scored the final five points of the half. Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) made one-of-two free throws, Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) slammed one home after a turnover, and Mims fed Jonaitis for a layup just before the horn as Gannon pulled to within 38-29 at the half.

The second half saw IUP build its lead to double figures only to see the Golden Knights battle back. Gannon's deficit grew to as much as 13 points on three occasions and Gannon cut the margin to as little as seven points four times.

The final time came on a Cenker Evran (Adana, Turkey/Turk Telekom) layup with 8:02 remaining, bringing the score to 55-48. They were not able to get over the hump, however, as the seasoned Crimson Hawks saw Dave Morris and Ethan Porterfield drain three's down the stretch. IUP went 14-for-14 from the free throw line in the final two minutes.

Head coach Kelvin Jefferson was forced to once again employ a makeshift lineup due to injuries. Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) missed yet another game and has played in just three contests this year. Michael Lucarotti (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) missed his fourth straight outing and Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) was unable to answer the bell.

Berkay Yilmaz (Istanbul, Turkey/Fenerbahce Beko) made his first start at point guard in place of fellow first-year performer Ronny Raphael (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter). The biggest addition, though, was Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) making his debut in front of the Gannon faithful for the first time. The 6'10" transfer from Delaware State had played in just four games, all on the road.

Mims and Kent turned in outstanding efforts on Wednesday. Mims scored a season-high 21 points and also pulled down six rebounds, with four assists and a pair of steals. The 6'6" redshirt junior made 8-of-14 field goals and was 5-of-7 at the line. Kent was 8-of-12 from the floor with a 3-pointer and had a team-high seven rebounds.

Omojafo contributed nine points and Donovan Forte (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights) had eight. Yilmaz handed out six assists, one shy of his season high.

Gannon shot a season-high 56.0 percent from the floor (28-of-50), going 3-of-9 on 3-pointers with the bulk of the 3-point threats in street clothes. The Golden Knights resorted to the inside game, outscoring IUP 42-16 in the paint. IUP came in at 38.6 percent (22-of-57), but made 11-of-33 3-pointers. The Crimson Hawks went 24-of-28 from the line while Gannon was 8-of-12.

IUP held a 33-29 advantage on the glass, but that included 14 offensive boards. Gannon committed 21 turnovers and IUP 14.

The Crimson Hawks had four players in double figures, led by Erie native Morris with 24 points. The son of former Gannon standout David "Motown" Morris was playing on the same court he played on in high school at Strong Vincent. A former transfer from Tennessee State, Morris has eclipsed 1,000 career points and now has 993 points at IUP. Morris added seven rebounds and six assists.

Shawndale Jones, the leading scorer in the PSAC, added 21 points thanks to a 10-for-10 effort at the charity stripe. Porterfield finished the night with 14 points and six boards and Tomiwa Sulaiman had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Gannon continues its three-game homestand on Saturday, January 14 as California (Pa.) visits Highmark Events Center. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.    
 
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