Layne Sarver vs. Cal
Joe Mattis

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

Gannon Plays at Daemen on Saturday in Showdown of Nationally-Ranked Teams

High-scoring Golden Knights run into defensive-minded Daemen

No. 21/7 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (15-2, 10-0 PSAC West) at No. 2/4 DAEMEN WILDCATS (15-0, 7-0 ECC)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, January 18, 2024 | 2:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: Lumsden Gymnasium l Amherst, N.Y.
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THE GANNON-DAEMEN SERIES
Gannon leads 11-1
In a series that first began in 1999 the Golden Knights have won 11 of the 12 meetings. Oddly enough all but one of the meetings have taken place at Gannon. The lone meeting at Daemen's Lumsden Gymnasium took place in January 2021 with the Golden Knights winning 76-73.

Last Meeting:  Jan. 31, 2021 – at Gannon 95, Daemen 67 I RECAP
Gannon swept a weekend series with the Wildcats during COVID season of 2020-21. After winning 76-73 at Daemen the Golden Knights followed up with a 95-67 victory at the Highmark Events Center. Gannon outscored Daemen 52-27 in the second half. Ike Herster led Gannon with 25 points while Chris Clancy added 18. The duo combined to make 11-of-17 3-pointers.
 

ERIE, Pa. – They say that the biggest thing in Buffalo this weekend is the NFL playoff game between Buffalo and Baltimore. But on Saturday Daemen's Lumsden Gymnasium is the place to be as two of the top teams in Division II men's basketball meet. Gannon plays its final non-conference game of the season traveling to Amherst, NY to face Daemen. Tipoff at Lumsden Gymnasium is 2:00 p.m.
 
Oddly enough both teams have run off 15 wins in a row. Gannon improved to 15-2 on Wednesday night with a 90-64 win over Slippery Rock. The Golden Knights were making their first appearance in the newly-renovated Highmark Events Center since December 19, 2023. They have climbed to seventh in the D2CSC Div. II Top 25 and reappeared in the NABC Top 25 for the first time since early in the season in 21st place. The 15-game winning streak is the second-longest in school history.  A year ago the Golden Knights set the record with 21 consecutive victories.
 
Daemen improved to 15-0 on Thursday night with an 88-56 win over D'Youville. The Wildcats have climbed to second in the NABC poll and are fourth in the D2CSC rankings. They have been downright dominant, with just one game decided by less than double figures.
 
Saturday's game presents some interesting dichotomies. Gannon ranks fifth in scoring offense at 97.3 ppg. while Daemen is fourth in scoring defense allowing 60.3 ppg. Both teams rank in the top ten in scoring margin with Daemen second at 25 ppg. and Gannon ninth at 17 ppg. Gannon has scored at least 87 points in every game, with seven games of 100-or-more points and 13 games with 90-or-more points. Meanwhile Daemen has not allowed more than 78 points in a game this season, holding nine opponents under 60 points.
 
Following Saturday's final non-conference game the Golden Knights return to PSAC West action on Wednesday, January 22 with Pitt-Johnstown visiting the Highmark Events Center. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. Gannon's final ten games are against Western Division opponents.

The Knight Watch:
Record:  15-2, 10-0 PSAC West
Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli (1st year)
  • Gannon has run off 15 straight wins and now owns the second-longest winning streak in school history. The last two wins have featured big runs. Last Saturday Gannon closed out a win at Edinboro with a 30-1 run, erasing a 21-point first-half deficit in a 100-84 victory. On Wednesday Gannon and Slippery Rock were in a tight battle just before the half, with the Golden Knights forging a nine-point lead at the half. Gannon scored the first 13 points in the second half and all told had a 29-7 run to start the half. Gannon ran away with a 90-64 win.
  • Gannon enters the game with a 15-2 record. They have climbed to seventh in the latest D2CSC Division II Top 25 and are 21st in the NABC poll.
  • After leading Division II in scoring a year ago the Golden Knights come in averaging 97.3 ppg., good for fifth in the country. They have scored 100-or-more points in seven games following a school-record 15 times last year. In addition, the Golden Knights are second in Division II in turnovers forced per game (22.18) and are fifth in turnover margin at +7.56
  • Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) was named the PSAC West Co-Athlete of the Week on Monday after leading Gannon to come-from-behind wins at Indiana (Pa.) and Edinboro last week. The sophomore guard continued his strong play on Wednesday leading Gannon with 22 points for his third straight game with 20-or-more points. He scored a career-high 29 points at IUP, making six 3-pointers, then added 21 points at Edinboro, going 15-for-15 from the line. Shelton has boosted his average to 19.0 ppg., good for fifth in the PSAC. In addition he leads the PSAC in 3-point field goals made per game (3.3) while making 56-of-150, and ranks second in free throw percentage at 92.9 pct. (65-of-70). He has made 32 consecutive free throws.
  • Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) continues to provide Gannon with outstanding play in the post. The 6-foot-9 sophomore recorded his tenth double-double of the season on Wednesday scoring 15 points while pulling down 17 rebounds. He is tied for third in Division II in double doubles. He keyed a huge 57-39 advantage on the glass for the Golden Knights. Goodrick has had at least 16 rebounds in four games. He is averaging 14.8 ppg. and 11.1 rpg., the latter figure ranking second in the PSAC and sixth in Division II.
  • Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) has started all 17 games at guard as a true freshman. The 6-foot-2 guard continues to stuff the stat sheet. He is averaging 14.3 ppg. and 5.1 rpg. while leading the team both in assists (69) and steals (34). Prosser has made 40-of-90 3-pointers, ranking second in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage at 44.4 percent.
Scouting Daemen
Record: 15-0, 7-0 ECC        
Head Coach: Mike MacDonald (11th year)
Top Players: Benjamin Bill (C, 6-10, R-So., 16.3 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 71.3 FG%, blks.); Justin Hemphill (G, 6-6, R-Sr., 11.6 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 53 asts., 50.7 FG%); Zach Philipkoski (G, 6-6, R-Jr., 10.7 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 19-of-53 3's, 48 asts.)
  • Head coach Mike MacDonald, the former head coach at Canisius, has built Daemen into a powerhouse. The Wildcats are undefeated at 15-0 following an 88-56 win over D'Youville on Thursday night. That was also their 14th straight win at home. They have climbed to second in the NABC Div. II Top 25 and fourth in the D2CSC poll. Daemen has run off six straight 20-win seasons, excluding the 2020-21 COVID season, and have earned four NCAA Tournament appearances.
  • Daemen showcases a pair of players who were named to the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List – Justin Hemphill and Benjamin Bill. Hemphill is a 6-foot-6 redshirt senior who averages 11.6 ppg. and 6.7 rpg., the latter figure tied for the team lead. He also leads the Wildcats with 53 assists. Bill is a 6-foot-10 redshirt sophomore who is the leading scorer at 16.3 ppg. and is tied with Hemphill in rebounding at 6.7 per game. He is third in Div. II in field goal percentage at an incredible 71.3 percent. Bill leads the team with 26 blocked shots.
  • Seven players have scored at least 100 points with Zach Philipkowski also in double figures at 10.7 ppg. He adds 48 assists and has made 19-of-53 3-pointers.
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Players Mentioned

Ernest Shelton

#4 Ernest Shelton

G
6' 5"
Sophomore
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

F
6' 9"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Ernest Shelton

#4 Ernest Shelton

6' 5"
Sophomore
G
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

6' 9"
Sophomore
F