demetrius mims gary miller classic 2022
Matt Durisko
Demetrius Mims scored a season-high 25 points to lead the Golden Knights.
58
Gannon Gannon 0-15,0-11 PSAC
72
Winner Mercyhurst Mercy 13-2,9-2 PSAC
Gannon Gannon
0-15,0-11 PSAC
58
Final
72
Mercyhurst Mercy
13-2,9-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon Gannon 26 32 58
Mercyhurst Mercy 19 53 72

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

Golden Knights Jump Out to Double-Digit First-Half Lead Before Mercyhurst Rallies with Hot Second Half

ERIE, Pa. – Spurred by the strong play of Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) and Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) the Gannon men's basketball team jumped out to a double-figure first-half lead but ultimately fell victim to a big Mercyhurst run to start the second half. A young Golden Knights team ended up dropping a 72-58 decision as Mercyhurst won its third straight game. Gannon is now 0-15 and 0-11 in the PSAC West while the Lakers are 13-2 and 9-2 in conference play.

Mims finished with a game-high 25 points, a high for a Gannon player this season. The 6'6" redshirt junior made 8-of-20 field goals and was a perfect 9-for-9 at the line. He also led all rebounders with seven. Kent added 16 points and six rebounds while making two of Gannon's three 3-pointers. Unfortunately, the rest of the Golden Knights scored 17 points, eight of those by freshman Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf).

Head coach Kelvin Jefferson was once again forced to play shorthanded with several starters out due to injuries. He started three freshmen for the ninth straight game and at times four first-year performers were on the floor.

Despite that the Golden Knights jumped out to an early lead as the game started with three distinctive runs. Gannon scored the first eight points of the game but Mercyhurst answered back with the next nine points. The Golden Knights regained the lead at 11-8 on Thomas Whitley's (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) 3-pointer, starting another run of 12 straight points as the Knights silenced the sellout crowd at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. When Omojafo hit a jumper in the lane Gannon's lead was 20-9 with eight minutes remaining in the half.

Gannon took its biggest lead of the game at 13 points at 24-11 with just over two minutes left on Mims' jumper in the paint. The Lakers crawled back into it closing the half with eight straight points before Kent scored on a layup in the waning seconds for a 26-19 lead at the half.

The seven-point halftime advantage was the largest of the season for the Golden Knights and the fourth lead at intermission all year. Gannon held a one-point lead over Millersville in its previous game.

Gannon did an outstanding job in the first half defensively against the Lakers, as Mercyhurst shot just 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from the floor and made just 1-of-16 3-pointers.

The second half was a different story, however. Mercyhurst came out with plenty of energy and sizzled from the floor, making 20-of-31 shots (64.5 percent), including 7-of-13 3-pointers. The Lakers opened the second half with 1 14-2 run to overtake the Golden Knights, and that burst eventually grew to 36-11 as Mercyhurst took its biggest lead of the night at 55-37 with 7:06 left to play.

Gannon did not go down without a fight, closing to within ten points with 2:58 remaining thanks to a 7-0 run. Mims scored on a layup, Berkay Yilmaz (Istanbul, Turkey/Fenerbahce Beko) came up with a steal and layup, and Kent drained a three from the right wing. But the Lakers scored the next two baskets to quell Gannon's comeback hopes. Mercyhurst outscored Gannon 53-32 in the second half.

Nicholas Lang led three Lakers in double figures with 17 points, adding seven rebounds, while Jeff Planutis contributed 14 points and five rebounds and Michael Bradley 12 points.

Gannon ended the night shooting 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the floor against a Lakers' team that ranked second in the PSAC in both scoring defense and field goal percentage defense. The Golden Knights made 3-of-9 3-pointers and were a perfect 13-of-13 at the line. After the cold first half Mercyhurst ended the night at 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the floor, making 8-of-29 from beyond the arc. The Lakers were 10-of-12 at the charity stripe. Gannon held a 35-31 rebounding advantage.

The Lakers came in leading the PSAC in turnover margin and forced Gannon into 19 turnovers while committing 10. It led to a huge 30-7 edge in points off turnovers.

The Golden Knights are back in action in less than 48 hours as they now play three times in five days. They play at Clarion on Monday, January 23 and then return to the Highmark Events Center on Wednesday, January 25 hosting Seton Hill.
 
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