Cenker Evran vs. UPJ
Bryce Dolak

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

Gannon Seeks Season Sweep of Clarion on Wednesday Night

CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (3-21, 1-17 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (2-20, 2-16 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Highmark Events Center l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS

GAME NOTES

RADIO:  Gannon basketball fans can catch all of the exciting action of Golden Knights' basketball on 90.5 WERG FM. Sean Amicucci and Trevor Kubeja will have the call of the game.
 
THE GANNON-CLARION ALL-TIME SERIES
Gannon leads 48-13
In a series that first began in 1948-49, Gannon has won the last 14 meetings with Clarion after sweeping last year's season series by scores of 75-66 at the Highmark Events Center and 79-65 at Tippin Gymnasium, then claiming a 73-62 win at Clarion in January. It was Gannon's first win of the season.
 
Last Meeting: 
Jan. 23, 2023 – Gannon 73, at Clarion 62 I RECAP
The trio of Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) and Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) combined for 55 points to lead Gannon to a 73-62 win at Clarion. Thomas Whitley (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds as Gannon snapped a 15-game losing streak. Clarion came out hot from beyond the 3-point arc and jumped to a 21-13 lead with 11:31 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles made 5-of-9 3-pointers during that stretch. Gannon still trailed by eight at 30-22 with just over five minutes to play, but they would score the final nine points of the half to head into the locker room at halftime with a 35-26 lead. Gerald Jarmon hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to start the second half to tie the score at 35-35. Gannon followed with a 10-1 burst with Kent and Mims scoring all ten points.  Clarion would close to within a bucket at 45-43 with 14:22 remaining, but the Golden Knights outscored Clarion 17-4 to take a commanding 62-47 lead with 8 minutes, 15 seconds remaining. Mims had his second straight 20-point effort making 7-of-14 field goals and 6-of-7 free throws, adding five rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and a block. Omojafo scored a season-high 20 points, 15 of those in the first half. The redshirt freshman ended the night going 8-of-9 from the floor, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers. In addition, he hounded Jarmon most of the night, limiting Clarion's leading score to just 13 points on 4-of-18 shooting. Kent scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half and also pulled down nine rebounds with a pair of blocks. Clarion had three players in double figures. Cam Kearney led the way with 16 points, with Jarmon totaling 13 and Mekhi Reynolds 11. Gannon outscored Clarion 38-10 in the paint.
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – After a much-needed break Gannon (2-20, 2-16 PSAC West) returns to the hardcourt for the final two weeks of the season. The Golden Knights have not played since last Wednesday and look to snap a four-game losing streak hosting Clarion (3-21, 1-17 PSAC West) on Wednesday, February 15. Tipoff at the Highmark Events Center is 7:30 p.m.

Gannon and Clarion are two of the youngest teams in the PSAC West with each relying greatly on first-year players. The Golden Knights have dominated the Golden Eagles winning the last 14 meetings. Gannon picked up its first win of the season on January 23 at Clarion rallying for a 73-62 win.

Head coach Kelvin Jefferson has started freshmen or redshirt freshmen for a total of 58 games, with three freshmen starting in 15 straight games before Jefferson started just two freshmen at California (Pa.) last Wednesday. The first-year players have accounted for over 39 percent of the team's scoring.

Clarion has relied on freshmen even more. The Golden Eagles have used freshmen starters 62 times and they account for 47 percent of the team's scoring.

While freshmen have been forced to play a key role for Gannon, it's the play of redshirt junior Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) that has caught the attention of opposing coaches. The 6'6" redshirt junior leads Gannon in scoring (15.8 ppg.), rebounding (7.0 rpg.) and steals (28), is tied for the team lead in blocked shots (15) and is second in assists with 57. He has scored in double figures in 15 straight games with four 20-point games in the last eight games.

Clarion has lost three straight games but the Golden Eagles have played well of late, including leading top-ranked Indiana (Pa.) for much of the game on Saturday before falling 70-63. The Golden Eagles did so despite playing without their top two scorers – Gerald Jarmon (17.0 ppg.) and Mekhi Reynolds (13.8 ppg.). Jarmon is a junior guard who has 1,117 career points.

Following the Clarion game the Golden Knights play at Seton Hill on Saturday, February 18 before a second straight road game at Edinboro on Wednesday, February 22. The season concludes with Senior Day on Saturday, February 25 hosting Mercyhurst.  
 
 
CLANCY RANKS AMONG TOP 3-POINT SHOOTERS AT GANNON
Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) has enjoyed a hot spell of late from beyond the three-point arc, in the process climbing into the Gannon record books in several categories. The 6'2" redshirt sophomore made a career-high seven 3-pointers in Gannon's last home game against Pitt-Johnstown. With 16 3-pointers in the last four games he has moved into a tie for sixth place in career 3-pointers made with 166 and is now sixth in career 3-pointers attempted with 420. His percentage of .395 falls just outside the top ten. Clancy has boosted his scoring average to 9.2 ppg. while averaging 14.0 ppg. over the last four games. That includes a season-high 22 points vs. Pitt-Johnstown and coming off the bench to score 20 points vs. Slippery Rock. 

MEECH ENJOYING STELLAR SEASON
Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) has put up all-conference numbers since early in the year and been the one consistent performer for Gannon. The 6'6" redshirt junior has been the only player to start all 22 games and has started all 49 games in his career as a Golden Knight. Mims has now scored in double figures in 15 consecutive games following a 20-point effort at California (Pa.) last Wednesday. It was the 6'6" redshirt junior's sixth 20-point game of the season. He has boosted his scoring average to a team-high 15.8 ppg., along with leading the Golden Knights with 7.0 rpg. He also leads the team in steals (28) and is tied for the team lead in blocked shots (15) while ranking second in assists (57).

LINEUP AGAIN UNDERGOES CHANGE
Head coach Kelvin Jefferson continues to search for the right lineup. The fourth-year coach has used 11 different lineups, some out of pure necessity due to injuries. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) is the lone player to start all 22 games, with Thomas Whitley (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) next with 19 starts. A 6'6' redshirt freshman, Whitley had started 17 straight games before coming off the bench last Wednesday at California (Pa.). Freshman Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) has started the last 14 games and fellow frosh Berkay Yilmaz (Istanbul, Turkey/Fenerbahce Beko) has been the starting point guard for 11 straight games.
  
SCOUTING CLARION
Clarion has lost three straight games following a 70-63 loss to top-ranked Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday. That dropped the Golden Eagles to 3-21 and 1-17 in the PSAC West. They have yet to win in eight games on the road. However, head coach Damian Pitts' team has played much better of late, including Saturday's loss to IUP. Clarion held a 14-point lead in the second half before being held to five points in the final nine minutes. And they did so despite playing without their top two scorers. With Gerald Jarmon (17.0 ppg.) and Mekhi Reynolds (13.8 ppg.) both missing against IUP, four players stepped up to score in double figures. Most noteworthy was Fray Nguimbi. The 6'8" freshman had his second career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Three other freshmen have played key roles. Six-foot-six Cam Kearney averages 13.4 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. Justice Easter, a 6'5" guard, is the team's top 3-point threat with 43 in 102 attempts. Jayson Harris, another 6'8" frosh, averages 7.2 ppg. and 5.3 rpg. Jarmon is the team's leading scorer at 17.0 ppg. but he has missed two of the last three games. A 5'11" junior, Jarmon is tied for the team lead with Easter in 3-pointers made with 43 in 129 attempts. He has scored 1,117 career points. Reynolds, a 6'3" junior, has made 41-of-103 3-pointers and is averaging 13.8 ppg. He has missed the last three contests.

NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon travels to Greensburg, Pa. on Saturday, February 18 to face Seton Hill in a 3:00 p.m. tipoff. The Golden Knights then conclude the 2022-23 campaign with a pair of local rivalry games in the final week. They play at Edinboro on Wednesday, February 22 before celebrating Senior Day hosting Mercyhurst on Saturday, February 25.
  
 
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Players Mentioned

Chris Clancy

#5 Chris Clancy

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Demetrius Mims

#1 Demetrius Mims

F
6' 6"
Redshirt Junior
Thomas Whitley

#22 Thomas Whitley

F
6' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
Josh Omojafo

#4 Josh Omojafo

G
6' 5"
Freshman
Berkay Yilmaz

#0 Berkay Yilmaz

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Zach Kent

#33 Zach Kent

F
6' 10"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Chris Clancy

#5 Chris Clancy

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Demetrius Mims

#1 Demetrius Mims

6' 6"
Redshirt Junior
F
Thomas Whitley

#22 Thomas Whitley

6' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
F
Josh Omojafo

#4 Josh Omojafo

6' 5"
Freshman
G
Berkay Yilmaz

#0 Berkay Yilmaz

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Zach Kent

#33 Zach Kent

6' 10"
Redshirt Senior
F