Derrick Anderson
Taylor Brown
68
Mercyhurst Mercy 9-10,5-6 PSAC
79
Winner Gannon Gannon 16-2,10-2 PSAC
Mercyhurst Mercy
9-10,5-6 PSAC
68
Final
79
Gannon Gannon
16-2,10-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercyhurst Mercy 31 37 68
Gannon Gannon 32 47 79

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

Reserves Power No. 12/7 Golden Knights to 79-68 Win over Mercyhurst, Ending Long Losing Streak to Lakers

ERIE, Pa. – The last time Gannon walked off the court victorious against crosstown rival Mercyhurst was February 17, 2018 when the Golden Knights won for the fourth straight time by a 58-50 margin. Since that time the Lakers had won the next ten meetings.

But the 2023-24 campaign has been different than any in recent years under first-year head coach Jordan Fee. Fee's first foray into the rivalry ended with Gannon handing Mercyhurst a 79-68 defeat. Ranked seventh in the D2CSC Media Poll and 12th in the latest NABC Division II Top 25, Gannon improved to 16-2 overall and 10-2 in the PSAC West with its fifth straight win.

Depth has been a major ingredient in this season's turnaround and on Wednesday at Cathedral Prep's Hagerty Family Events Center it was the reserves who jump-started the Golden Knights in front of a large crowd. Fee has utilized a five-on, five-off system and it was the bench performers who nearly matched the starters in point production, with the starting five accounting for 41 points and the backups 38 points.

Gannon came in as the top scoring team in Division II at 107.6 ppg. but were facing long-time Mercyhurst head coach Gary Manchel, a noted defensive strategist. In fact, the Lakers came in leading the PSAC and ranking 12th nationally in scoring defense (64.7 ppg.).

On Wednesday night the Lakers allowed few of the trademark scoring spurts the Golden Knights have become known for, but the Gannon defense stepped up. Gannon forced 16 turnovers while turning the ball over a season-low eight times as the Golden Knights outscored the Lakers 20-5 on turnovers.

Gannon twice gained double-figure leads. In the first half the Golden Knights saw the Lakers score the first six points but Gannon broke an 11-11 tie with a 13-2 run to go ahead 24-13 with just over nine minutes left in the half.

Mercyhurst answered back with 11 straight back points with Alexander Parks making three consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 24-24. The half would end with Gannon holding a narrow 32-31 advantage.

The lead exchanged hands six times in the early minutes of the second half before Gannon gained the lead for good at 49-46 with 14:30 remaining on a 3-point play by Nathan Schneider (Kersey, Pa./St. Marys Area).

Leading 49-48, the Golden Knights took control of the contest with a 15-4 run to move ahead 64-52 with 7:34 left. The reserves keyed the run as Mike Montano (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) scored on a tip-in and followed with a layup. The starters then re-entered with Derrick James (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) driving to the hoop for a layup and Lyle Tipton (Glenside, Pa./Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy) draining a 3-pointer for the 64-52 lead. The run also featured a pair of baskets for five points by freshman Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge).

This time Gannon did not allow the Lakers to get back into the game. Mercyhurst pulled no closer than seven points on two occasions the rest of the way, the last at 75-68 with 2:42 left to play. The Golden Knights finished off the win with a pair of Nigel Haughton (Bel Air, Md./South Kent) free throws and a Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) layup.

Four Golden Knights scored in double figures as nine players scored five-or-more points. Reserves Schneider and Derrick Anderson (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) scored 16 and 10 points, respectively. Schneider, a transfer from Pitt-Bradford, had scored 12 points in the previous three games before making 5-of-7 field goals, including a 3-pointer, along with making 5-of-7 free throws on Wednesday night. He added two assists and two steals.

Omojafo and Haughton added 11 points apiece, with Haughton pulling down five rebounds. James contributed eight points and handed out seven assists. Shelton finished with seven points while Montano totaled five points and a team-high six rebounds.

Gannon ended the night shooting 46.4 percent from the floor (26-of-56), making 6-of-18 3-pointers, along with a 21-of-27 showing at the free throw line. Mercyhurst ended the night shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (23-of-46) and making 7-of-17 3-pointers. The Lakers went 15-of-20 at the line. The Golden Knights outrebounded the Lakers 31-29.

Holding a half-game lead for first place in the Western Division the Golden Knights return to action on Saturday, January 27 at Pitt-Johnstown. Tipoff is 3:00 p.m.
 
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