Robertas Jonaitis vs. Millersville
Bryce Dolak
Robertas Jonaitis drives past Millersville defender.
66
Winner Millersville MU 8-8,5-5 PSAC
64
Gannon Gannon 0-14,0-10 PSAC
Winner
Millersville MU
8-8,5-5 PSAC
66
Final
64
Gannon Gannon
0-14,0-10 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Millersville MU 26 40 66
Gannon Gannon 27 37 64

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

Gannon Suffers Heart-Breaking Loss in Final Seconds to Millervsille

ERIE, Pa. – Millersville's Matt Dade scored on a short turnaround jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining as the Marauders handed a young Gannon squad yet another heartbreaking loss. The Golden Knights dropped to 0-14 overall and 0-10 in the PSAC with the last-second loss at the Highmark Events Center, while the Marauders are now 8-8 and 5-5, respectively.

The Golden Knights held a narrow 27-26 advantage at the half and never trailed in the second half until Dade's game-winner in the waning moments. Gannon's lead grew to as much as 12 points at 58-46 and was 60-49 with 3:53 left to play after a pair of Demetrius Mims' (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) free throws.

Unfortunately, the rest of the way the experience of Millersville took over against a Gannon team which has had to rely on first-year performers for much of the year. The Marauders closed the game out with a 17-4 run, suddenly hitting jumpers after struggling all night long from the field, along with forcing four Gannon turnovers.

Millersville made its final five field goal attempts over the last 3 minutes, 15 seconds after being held to 11-of-39 up to that point. Three of the baskets were 3-pointers as the Marauders relied on the 3-pointer and free throws all night long.

Gannon's last basket came with 2:59 remaining on a jumper in the paint by Mims. That left the Golden Knights with a 10-point margin at 62-52. Day Waters hit a jumper and Dylin Boden closed the gap to 62-57 with a 3-pointer with 2:10 left to play.

Matt Dade and Robertas Jonaitis (Pakruojis, Lithuania/Greater Beckley Christian School) exchanged a pair of free throws as Gannon maintained the five-point margin at 64-59. Waters drained another three, and after a turnover, Mekhi Hendricks converted on a pair of free throws and the two teams were suddenly tied at 64-64 with still a minute to play.

Gannon would turn the ball over on its next possession, but Waters missed two at the charity stripe with 56 seconds left. Ronny Raphael's (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) jumper in the paint rimmed out and Millersville pulled down the rebound to set up the final shot.

They would get the ball low to Dade, who lived at the free throw line all night but had misfired on all three of his field goal attempts to that point. The 6'6" junior backed his way in to less then five feet and rose up over Mims for his lone basket of the night. Mims' shot from halfcourt was off the mark as the buzzer sounded.

Gannon has now suffered eight losses by eight points or less, including last-second losses to Le Moyne and Millersville along with an overtime setback at Kutztown.

The Golden Knights have had to deal with adversity all year and tonight was certainly no exception. Six players were unavailable for head coach Kelvin Jefferson, including top 3-point threat Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's), who has now missed three of the last five games. To make matters worse, Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) went out with an injury with 18 minutes remaining in the game and did not return. The 6'10" transfer from Delaware State had totaled 10 points and five rebounds until that point.

With Kent missing, Mims took over. The 6'6" redshirt junior played just eight scoreless minutes in the first half due to injuries, but he excelled in the second half. Mims scored all 13 of his points in the final 20 minutes and finished with five rebounds.

All told the Golden Knights had five players in double figures, with two of the other three first-year performers. First-year players accounted for 29 of Gannon's 64 points, as freshman Cenker Evran (Adana, Turkey/Turk Telekom) tied his season-high with 10 points and Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) added 10 markers and six boards.

Last but not least was Jonaitis, who registered the first double-double of his career. The 6'5" native of Lithuania came off the bench to contribute 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. He had scored just 12 points in his previous eight games and had 10 total rebounds entering the game.

Millersville also had five players in double figures, accounting for all but three of the Marauders' points.  Dade led the way with 17 points. He converted on 15-of-20 free throws as the Marauders were 23-of-31 at the charity stripe compared to 11-of-16 for Gannon. Justin Nwosu and Waters added 12 points, while Hendricks and Keith Mency finished with 11 points apiece.  

Gannon shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) for the game while making 5-of-15 3-pointers. They held Millersville to 36.4 percent (16-of-44), but the Marauders were 11-of-27 from beyond the arc. Gannon outrebounded Millersville 41-31, doing an outstanding job on the defensive glass. Millersville had just two offensive boards compared to Gannon's 11, leading to a 17-4 advantage in second chance points. Gannon outscored Millersville 34-6 in the paint.

The going doesn't get any easier for Gannon. They return to action on Saturday, January 21 playing at Mercyhurst. The Lakers come in with a 12-2 record, 8-2 in the PSAC West, after hanging on for a 66-65 win at California (Pa.) on Wednesday night. Tipoff at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center is 7:30 p.m.  
 
 
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