Derrick James
Cody Exley
91
Slippery Rock SRU 11-12,9-8 PSAC
94
Winner Gannon Gannon 22-2,16-2 PSAC
Slippery Rock SRU
11-12,9-8 PSAC
91
Final
94
Gannon Gannon
22-2,16-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock SRU 49 42 91
Gannon Gannon 56 38 94

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

Golden Knights Run Winning Streak to 11 Games with 94-91 Win over Slippery Rock

ERIE, Pa. – It shouldn't come as a surprise that Wednesday's Gannon-Slippery Rock game went down to the wire. When the two teams met at Slippery Rock a month ago Gannon rallied from a six-point deficit with less than a minute remaining to send the game into overtime and prevailed 95-90.

Wednesday's game finished with a near identical score as Gannon earned the regular season sweep with a 94-91 win at Hagerty Family Events Center. The Golden Knights, ranked fourth in Division II in the D2CSC Media Poll and seventh in the NABC Top 25, improved to 22-2 overall and 16-2 in the PSAC West while winning for the 11th straight time. The 11-game winning streak is the longest since a stretch of 12 consecutive wins in 2008-09. They remained undefeated in home games at 13-0. Slippery Rock dropped to a deceiving 11-12 and 9-8 in conference play.

Just as in the first game, the game saw both teams surrender large leads while ending up playing a nailbiter. Gannon was forced to play without top 3-point marksman Zachary Hobbs (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesa) and found itself down 9-0 just over three minutes into the game.

The Rock eventually took an 18-point lead at 33-15 with 9:51 remaining in the half. Six minutes later the Golden Knights grabbed their first lead at 42-40 on a Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) jumper. Gannon ended up going ahead by eight points at 50-42 with 2:15 remaining, capping a 35-9 run. The Golden Knights held a 56-49 lead at the half.

Gannon gained its largest lead of the game at 60-49 just over a minute into the second half courtesy of Derrick James (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) short jumper. The Golden Knights still led by 11 points at 67-56 with 14:24 remaining, but The Rock answered with ten straight points in less than two minutes and Gannon was suddenly clinging to a one-point lead.

SRU eventually took a one-point lead at 74-73 midway through the half, but Gannon's next possession resulted in an Omojafo basket. The Golden Knight's never trailed after the sophomore's hoop, but it was a tenuous lead down the stretch. The game was tied at 78-78 when Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) was fouled shooting a 3-pointer. The freshman knocked down all three free throws.

Gannon would build its advantage to as many as five and proceeded to make several big plays down the stretch to hold off The Rock. James made one-of-two free throws for a 92-89 advantage at the 1:21 mark. Lashon Lindsey's dunk made it a one-point game with 14 seconds, but Omojafo countered with a pair at the charity stripe with 11 seconds showing.

Following a timeout, Lyle Tipton (Glenside, Pa./Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy) stole the ball at midcourt and the Golden Knights dribbled off the last six seconds.

The turnover was the last of 22 forced by the Golden Knights as they held a 33-13 advantage in points off turnovers. Gannon also outrebounded a taller SRU squad 41-37, hustling for 18 offensive rebounds.

Slippery Rock stayed in the game thanks to shooting 53.3 percent from the floor (32-of-60), making 10-of-21 3-pointers, while Gannon shot 44.0 percent (33-of-75), including 7-of-17 3-pointers. Gannon was 21-of-26 at the line and SRU 17-of-24.

Omojafo led five Golden Knights in double figures with 22 points, his 13th game of 20-or-more points. The 6-foot-5 guard was a perfect 7-for-7 at the line and pulled down five rebounds. He has made 161 free throws this year, leaving him 12 shy of Butch Warner's school record of 173. James totaled 14 points and six steals while Tipton had 13 points.

Freshmen Mike Montano (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) and Shelton also played huge roles off the bench. Montano enjoyed his second double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Shelton contributed 10 points in 11 minutes.

Jomo Goings led Slippery Rock with 25 points, one of five players in double figures. Former Golden Knight Ike Herster (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) totaled 11 points.
Gannon looks to extend its winning streak on Saturday, February 17 hosting Clarion. Tipoff at Hagerty Family Events Center is 3:00 p.m.
 
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