Donovan Forte vs. Seton Hill

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

Gannon to Honor Four Seniors Prior to Season Finale vs. No. 16/18 Mercyhurst

No. 16/18 MERCYHURST LAKERS (21-4, 17-4) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (3-22, 3-18 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 25, 2023 | 3:00 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Highmark Events Center l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS

RADIO:  Gannon basketball fans can catch all of the exciting action of Golden Knights' basketball on 90.5 WERG FM. Sean Amicucci and Logan Wurst will have the call of the game.
 
THE GANNON-MERCYHURST ALL-TIME SERIES
Gannon leads 54-31 
While Gannon holds a sizeable advantage in the all-time series which first began in the 1974-75 season, the Golden Knights are looking to snap a nine-game losing streak to Mercyhurst. Five of those nine losses have come by seven points or less. The Lakers claimed the first meeting this year, rallying for a 72-58 win at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Saturday's game marks the 86th meeting between the two archrivals.
 
Last Meeting: 
Jan. 21, 2023 – at Mercyhurst 72, Gannon 58 I RECAP
Gannon jumped out to a double-figure first-half lead but ultimately fell victim to a big Mercyhurst run to start the second half. Gannon took its biggest lead of the game at 13 points at 24-11 with just over two minutes left on Demetrius Mims' (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) jumper in the paint. The Lakers crawled back into it closing the half with eight straight points before Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) scored on a layup in the waning seconds for a 26-19 lead at the half. 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 a 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. But the Lakers scored the next two baskets to quell Gannon's comeback hopes. Mercyhurst outscored Gannon 53-32 in the second half. Mims finished with a game-high 25 points, making 8-of-20 field goals and going 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. 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.
 

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon concludes the 2022-23 season on Saturday hosting crosstown-rival Mercyhurst. The Golden Knights come in with a 3-22 record, 3-18 in the PSAC West, following Wednesday's 83-78 loss at Edinboro. Mercyhurst is second in the PSAC West at 17-4 and is 21-4 overall with three straight wins after winning 84-62 at Seton Hill. The Lakers are ranked 16th in Division II in the NABC Top 25 and 18th according to the D2SIDA poll.

Gannon will recognize four players in pre-game ceremonies as part of Senior Day. The four making their final appearance at the Highmark Events Center include Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), Donovan Forte (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights), Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)), and Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute).

Saturday's game with the Lakers will mark the 86th meeting between the two, with Mercyhurst winning the last nine. The first meeting this year went to the Lakers by a 72-58 score. The Golden Knights jumped out to a double-digit first-half lead but were unable to hold off a veteran Mercyhurst team in the final 20 minutes.

Head coach Kelvin Jefferson has had to endure a second straight season filled with injuries, forcing him to rely on a host of first-year players. The injuries in particular have sapped the Golden Knights of their outside shooting threats, with Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) playing in just three games, Michael Lucarotti (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) eight, and Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) missing seven games this year, including the last two.

The Golden Knights have also missed the veteran presence of Dodds, a 6'7" post player who started 72 games in his career but has missed the entire season and served as a student assistant coach.

Mims continues to play outstanding basketball. The 6'6" forward was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week earlier in the week. After scoring a season-high 28 points at Seton Hill he led all scorers with 25 points on Wednesday. It was his 18th straight game in double figures and third game with 20-or-more points in the last four games. He leads the Golden Knights in scoring (16.7 ppg.) and rebounding (6.7 rpg.), along with steals (31) and blocked shots (17).

Kent joined the Golden Knights this year after playing the last two seasons at Delaware State. The 6'10" redshirt senior has proven to be one of the better big men in the PSAC, but he has also had to take over as Gannon's top 3-point threat. He is averaging 13.1 ppg. and 5.9 rpg. with 19 three's in 55 attempts.

First-year performers have started 66 games this season, with Jefferson employing a starting lineup with three first-year performers in 17 games. Redshirt freshman Thomas Whitley (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) has started 21 games, while Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) has started the last 17 games and Berkay Yilmaz (Istanbul, Turkey/Fenerbahce Beko) has now started the last 14 games at point guard.  
 
GOODBYE SENIORS
Gannon will recognize four players making their final appearance at the Highmark Events Center as part of Senior Day. Kevin Dodds (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) has been with the program the longest. The 6'7" forward has been a Golden Knight since the 2018-19 season and has played in 82 games and started 72. Donovan Forte (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights), a 6'6" forward, joined the Golden Knights in 2020-21 after playing at Jacksonville for two seasons. He has appeared in 48 ga,es as a Golden Knight. Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) has been a two-year starter for Gannon after previously playing at Towson and Long Beach State. The 6'6" forward has started all 52 games as a Golden Knight and has scored 760 career points with 344 rebounds. Finally, Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) began his career at Tennessee before playing two seasons at Delaware State. A 6'10" forward Kent missed time with injuries early in the year but has averaged 13.1 ppg. in 18 games.  
 
CLANCY NAMED TO CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
The College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2022-23 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Basketball Teams were announced this week. The teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The Gannon men's basketball team was represented by Chris Clancy (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) landed a spot on the Men's Basketball All-District 2 team. Clancy, a redshirt sophomore guard, is a Criminal Justice major with a 3.61 GPA. Student-athletes must have a 3.50 GPA or better to qualify for the honor, and if in a master's program must have a 3.50 GPA as an undergrad and graduate student.

EVRAN ENJOYS CAREER NIGHT AT EDINBORO
In a season which has seen freshmen play key roles Cenker Evran (Adana, Turkey/Turk Telekom) has developed into one of the top first-year performers. A 6'8" forward from Turkey, Evran had been coming on of late before missing the Seton Hill game with an injury. He returned at Edinboro and turned in his best effort of the season. He made 8-of-11 field goals and 2-of-4 free throws to finish with 18 points, his third game in double figures. He registered his first double-double after pulling down 13 rebounds. He was incredibly active on the offensive boards with nine offensive rebounds.

KENT WITH SECOND STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Zach Kent (Magnolia, Del./Blair Academy (N.J.)) joined Cenker Evran (Adana, Turkey/Turk Telekom) with a double-double at Edinboro. It marked the second straight double-double for the 6'10" redshirt senior as he finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He previously had 11 points and 23 rebounds at Seton Hill last Saturday for his first double-double as a Golden Knight.

OMOJAFO FINISHING UP SOLID FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN
Hamilton, Ontario-native Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) has quietly put together one of the better seasons by a freshman in the PSAC West this season. The 6'5" guard is averaging 8.4 ppg. He finished with 11 points at Edinboro and has now had three straight games in double figures and 11 total this year.  
  
MIMS NAMED PSAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Demetrius Mims (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week for his performance last week. A 6'6" redshirt junior, Mims has been on an impressive run, scoring in double figures in the last 18 games. He scored 16 points against Clarion, with 14 of those in the second half after sitting out a large portion of the first half due to foul trouble. Mims followed that up with a season-best 28 points at Seton Hill as he accounted for half of Gannon's scoring. He made 10-of-19 field goals and was 8-of-10 at the line. He added six rebounds, an assist and a steal. On Wednesday he had his eighth game of 20-or-more points of the season and third in the last four games, finishing with 25 points at Edinboro. Mims leads the Golden Knights in numerous statistical categories, including scoring (16.7 ppg.) and rebounding (6.7 rpg.). He also leads the way in steals (31) and blocked shots (17) while standing second in assists with 65.
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Chris Clancy

#5 Chris Clancy

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kevin Dodds

#14 Kevin Dodds

F
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Donovan Forte

#10 Donovan Forte

F
6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
Ike Herster

#3 Ike Herster

G
6' 6"
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
Michael Lucarotti

#2 Michael Lucarotti

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Cenker Evran

#32 Cenker Evran

F
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Chris Clancy

#5 Chris Clancy

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Kevin Dodds

#14 Kevin Dodds

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
F
Donovan Forte

#10 Donovan Forte

6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
F
Ike Herster

#3 Ike Herster

6' 6"
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
Michael Lucarotti

#2 Michael Lucarotti

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
G
Cenker Evran

#32 Cenker Evran

6' 8"
Freshman
F