Ernest Shelton vs. Shepherd
Bryce Dolak
72
Shepherd Shep 7-4,3-1 PSAC
92
Winner Gannon Gannon 9-2,5-0 PSAC
Shepherd Shep
7-4,3-1 PSAC
72
Final
92
Gannon Gannon
9-2,5-0 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Shepherd Shep 31 41 72
Gannon Gannon 40 52 92

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

Shelton Paces Golden Knights to Physical Win over Shepherd

Gannon winning streak now at nine games

ERIE, Pa. – Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) led five players in double figures with his first career double-double and Gannon pulled away from a physical Shepherd team to win 92-72 on Tuesday evening at the Hagerty Family Events Center. The two teams came in riding winning streaks, with the Golden Knights winning for the ninth straight time while snapping Shepherd's three-game winning streak.

The game featured a total contrast in styles, with Gannon coming in as the top scoring team in the PSAC and fifth in Division II at 98.9 ppg., while Shepherd was tops in the conference in scoring defense at 66.3 ppg. The Rams had held eight of ten opponents to 66 points or less, but the Golden Knights ended up winning the battle of styles.

Gannon, ranked 17th in the latest D2CSC Top 25, improved to 9-2 and is 5-0 in the PSAC West with the victory. Shepherd dipped to 7-4 and is 3-1 in league play.

The Golden Knights saw their string of 100-point games snapped at three, but still reached at least 90 points for the ninth time in 11 games.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon was able to slowly pull away late in the first half. The game featured just two lead changes and one tie, with Shepherd's lone lead at 6-5 with 14:42 left in the first half. But the game was being played at Shepherd's pace. Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) answered immediately with a basket to give Gannon the lead for good at 7-6.

The Golden Knights parlayed a 10-0 run later in the half to gain a little breathing room. The three-minute period saw Gannon expand a 14-12 lead to 24-12 with 7:17 remaining. Gannon held a 40-31 lead at the half.

Shepherd would close the gap to eight points just twice, the latter at 47-39 two minutes into the half. The Rams continued to hang around with striking distance when Gannon put together another run. Leading 66-55 midway through the second half, three minutes later they were up 77-56 with 6:58 remaining. Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) got the 11-1 run started with a pair of baskets. Mason Kemp (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley) added four more points. The Rams never pulled closer than 17 points the rest of the way.

BY THE NUMBERS
Gannon shot 43.6 percent from the floor (34-of-78), including 4-of-18 on 3-pointers, and while Shepherd was slightly better at 44.6 percent (25-of-56), making 9-of-28 three's, the big difference was Gannon attempted 22 more shots. That was thanks to a 50-37 advantage on the glass along with forcing 25 turnovers. Gannon committed 16 turnovers but in a rarity the Golden Knights held a slim 25-24 edge in points off turnovers. But they outscored the Rams 50-32 in what turned in to a fierce battle in the paint.

The Golden Knights won despite seeing three starters foul out. Gannon committed 24 fouls and Shepherd 21. But the Golden Knights made 20-of-27 free throws while the Rams were 13-of-26.

Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) had his first career double-double while leading five players in double figures. The sophomore guard scored 19 points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds. He was a perfect 8-of-8 at the line.   

Freshman point guard Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) came off the bench to contribute a season-high 15 points while adding six rebounds. Fellow guard Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) added 14 points and had three steals before fouling out. Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska), in his third game as a Golden Knight and first career start, added 10 points.

The final player in double figures was Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College), who waged his own little war in the paint against Shepherd big man Chase Paar. The two Division I transfers battled all night. Goodrick ended with 14 points and seven boards, adding three steals. Paar would finish with eight points and 11 rebounds.

As usual the Gannon bench played a major role. In addition to Sekasi, Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) finished with eight points and six rebounds while keying a second-half surge. Mason Kemp (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley) also scored eight points and pulled down four rebounds in just 10 minutes.

Jarod Robinson led three Rams in double figures with 13 points. Elwyne Wordlaw contributed 12 points and Marcus Banks finished with 10.

NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS
Gannon will play for the final time in 2024, and face its final PSAC East opponent, on Saturday, December 21 when the Golden Knights travel to Lock Haven. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
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