Josh Omojafo vs. IUP
Taylor Brown
58
Indiana (PA) IUP 9-5,6-2 PSAC
84
Winner Gannon Gannon 13-2,7-2 PSAC
Indiana (PA) IUP
9-5,6-2 PSAC
58
Final
84
Gannon Gannon
13-2,7-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Indiana (PA) IUP 23 35 58
Gannon Gannon 46 38 84

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

Fast Start Leads to Big Win as Golden Knights Get Defensive against IUP

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's basketball team continued to validate itself as a team to be reckoned with in the PSAC West on Saturday, turning in an impressive showing while handing Indiana (Pa.) an 84-58 defeat at the Hagerty Family Events Center.

The victory boosted Gannon to 13-2 overall and 7-2 in league play as the Golden Knights came in ranked 14th in the latest D2CSC Media Poll and 20th in the NABC rankings. IUP had won eight of nine games coming in and falls to 9-5 and 6-2 in the PSAC West.

Wins over IUP had been few and far between for the Golden Knights of late. The Crimson Hawks had won 14 of the last 16 meetings. The 26-point margin of victory was the largest since a 27-point win in 2001-02.

Unlike previous games where Gannon had blitzed opponents with its high-scoring offense, on Saturday first-year head coach Jordan Fee's team showed it can play defense as well. Gannon came in leading Division II in scoring at 111.1 ppg., and the 84 points is the team's lowest total in a win this season.

But the Golden Knights limited the Crimson Hawks to 23 points in the first half and 58 in the game. IUP shot just 40.8 percent from the floor, going 5-of-25 on 3-pointers. Gannon, meanwhile, shot 50 percent-or-better for the tenth time this season, finishing at 52.5 percent (31-of-59). The Golden Knights made 7-of-19 3-pointers and went 15-of-19 at the line.

In addition, Gannon outrebounded IUP 37-28. And then there's the turnovers. Gannon forced 25 turnovers, the tenth time an opponent has committed 25-or-more turnovers. The Golden Knights held a 30-15 advantage in points off turnovers.

IUP led just once in the game, that coming at 2-0. The Golden Knights proceeded to sprint out of the gates with the next 18 points to take an 18-2 lead over the first six minutes. During that period IUP committed seven turnovers that led to 11 Gannon points.

Zachary Hobbs (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesa) tied the game with a layup and Nigel Haughton (Bel Air, Md./South Kent) gave Gannon the lead for good with a 3-pointer. Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) followed with a 3-pointer and a monster slam to make it 10-2. Following an IUP 3-pointer Hobbs and Lyle Tipton (Glenside, Pa./Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy) drained three's before Tipton capped the run with a pair of free throws.

To IUP's credit, the Crimson Hawks pulled to within seven points at 22-15 midway through the first half. The Golden Knights closed the half on a 22-6 run to go ahead 46-23 at the half. Tipton scored eight of the points and Omojafo seven. Gannon shot 62.1 percent (18-of-29) over the first 20 minutes and made 6-of-11 3-pointers.

Gannon's defense continued to hound the Crimson Hawks in the second half. IUP never pulled closer than 21 points at 59-38 midway through the second half. The lead grew to as many as 32 points on a pair of occasions, the last at 76-44 with 4:39 left.

Tipton and Omojafo led the way with 21 points apiece. Tipton, a 6'3" swingman, added a team-high seven rebounds while making 8-of-12 field goals, including a 3-pointer, and going 4-for-4 at the line. Omojafo came in ranked among the leading scorers in the PSAC at 20.6 ppg. and matched that total while making 7-of-14 field goals with a 3-pointer and going 6-of-7 at the line. He had three steals and three assists.

Hobbs was a third Golden Knight in double digits with 12 points, making 2-of-3 3-pointers. The transfer from Indiana State has made at least two 3-pointers for the 13th time this year.

Eleven Golden Knights scored in all. Derrick James (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) totaled seven points, six assists and three steals. Nigel Haughton (Bel Air, Md./South Kent) also had seven points, adding six rebounds and four assists.

Gannon returns to action on Wednesday, January 17 with the first of back-to-back road contests. The Golden Knights play at Slippery Rock with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. at Morrow Fieldhouse. On Saturday, January 20 Gannon plays at Clarion.
 
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