Demetrius Mims vs. Lake Erie
Matt Durisko
69
Gannon Gannon 0-10,0-6 PSAC
83
Winner Slippery Rock SRU 10-2,4-2 PSAC
Gannon Gannon
0-10,0-6 PSAC
69
Final
83
Slippery Rock SRU
10-2,4-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon Gannon 27 42 69
Slippery Rock SRU 39 44 83

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

Kent Enjoys Big Night in Return but Golden Knights Fall at Slippery Rock to Start PSAC West Play

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) returned to the lineup with a game-high 20 points after missing the last three games but it was not enough to avert a tenth straight loss on Wednesday night at Slippery Rock. SRU handed the Golden Knights an 83-69 defeat at Morrow Field House in the PSAC West opener for both teams. Gannon is now 0-10 overall and 0-6 in PSAC action while Slippery Rock improved to 10-2 and 4-2, respectively.

A 6'10" transfer from Division I Delaware State, Kent missed the first four games of the season before returning to play in two contests. He was appearing in just his third game as a Golden Knight and enjoyed a big second half. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half and ended up going 6-of-12 from the floor, including a 3-pointer, and a perfect 7-for-7 at the line. He added a team-high seven rebounds and a pair of assists.

While the final score was not indicative of the game, unfortunately, the story was all too familiar for head coach Kelvin Jefferson. His young squad which again featured three freshmen in the starting lineup, fell behind by a double-figure margin while once again playing short-handed.

While Kent would return to play 24 minutes, Gannon's top outside threat, Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's), missed the game and it was clearly evident as the Golden Knights went just 2-of-13 from beyond the arc. Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) has now missed seven straight games, seven-foot sophomore Ali Ragab (Cairo, Egypt/Rocktop Academy) his third straight, and Michael Lucarotti (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) a second consecutive contest.

In a game of runs, the Golden Knights jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead but ten straight points by SRU gave The Rock the lead for good at 21-12. The deficit grew to as much as 16 points at 34-18 with 4:24 to play in the first half on a 10-2 SRU run, all part of a 27-9 burst. Gannon trailed by 12 points at 39-27 at intermission.

As has been the case in many games, the Golden Knights did not go down without a fight. Thanks to a 12-2 run early in the second half they found themselves trailing by just a bucket at 43-41. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) contributed six points in the burst and a Kent layup made it a two-point game.

Slippery Rock eventually built the lead back to 11 points at 65-54 with just over five minutes remaining, with Amante Britt's layup capping a 10-2 run. Kent answered with five straight free throws, the final three after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, to make it 65-59. JoMo Goings buried a contested three to boost SRU's lead back up to nine, but Kent hit a turnaround jumper and Mims scored on a rebound basket and Gannon had pulled to within five points at 68-63 with 2:57 remaining.

In a scenario similar to last year's second meeting late in the game, Slippery Rock made a free throw, missed the second, but grabbed the offensive rebound. Dylan Ahearn drained a 3-pointer to make it 72-63.

Kent was fouled on the ensuing Gannon possession. He made the first free throw, but Gannon was then assessed a technical. Ahearn made both of the free throws to boost the SRU lead to 74-64 before Kent stepped back to the line and hit his second free throw with 2:04 left.

Goings then applied the final dagger with 1:41 left as his 3-pointer gave SRU a 77-65 advantage. The Rock closed the game on a 15-6 run.

Gannon's 69 points were the highest total in the last four games, but they allowed a season-high 83 points. Despite a tough night from beyond the arc, the Golden Knights shot a season-best 48.1 percent (25-of-52) from the floor, including 53.9 percent (14-of-26) in the second half. They were 17-of-20 at the line. SRU came in at 45.8 percent (27-of-59) but enjoyed a huge advantage on 3-pointers, making 11-of-28. The Rock was 18-of-23 from the line.

The rebound battle went to Slippery Rock by a narrow 32-30 margin. Turnovers greatly hampered the Golden Knights, particularly in the first half when they committed 12, but they ended the night with just 18. SRU committed 13 turnovers.

In addition to Kent's 20 points, Mims scored in double digits for the seventh time this season. The 6'6" redshirt junior finished with 16 points, making 7-of-11 field goals, along with six rebounds and four assists. Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) had eight points and a pair of blocks.

Slippery Rock had four players in double figures, led by Jonathan McFall with 16 points. He made 4-of-6 3-pointers, while Goings was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and totaled 14 points. Khalid Gates added 13 points and five rebounds and Lashon Lindsey added 11 points and five boards.

Gannon wraps up a three-game road swing on Saturday, January 7 playing at Pitt-Johnstown in a rematch of last year's PSAC Tournament first round game. Tip off at the UPJ Sports Center is 3:00 p.m.
     
 
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