Chalas and Hawkins vs. SRU
Mike Gallagher

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

Gannon Travels to California (Pa.) in Search of End to Skid

NR/No. 23 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (16-5, 11-2 PSAC West) at CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (11-10, 6-7 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: Convocation Center l California, Pa.
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THE GANNON-CAL (PA) SERIES
Gannon leads 25-20
Gannon and California (Pa.) met three times in 2023-24. The two teams split the regular season games, with Cal winning on its homecourt 99-84, before Gannon handed the Vulcans a 107-98 defeat in the rematch. The third meeting came with the PSAC title on the line. The Golden Knights prevailed 89-74.
Last Meeting:  January 4, 2025 – at Gannon 108, California (Pa.) 71 I RECAP
Gannon jumped out to a 52-34 halftime lead and then put 56 more points on the board in the second half. The Golden Knights shot 54.1 percent from the floor, making 16-of-30 3-pointers. Cal was held to35.7 percent and committed 22 turnovers. Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) led the Golden Knights with 27 points, making 6-of-9 3-pointers, while Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) added 20 points and 13 rebounds. Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) was 5-of-9 from beyond the arc for 19 points.
 

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon is somewhat in uncharted territory for the new regime that came in a year ago. The Golden Knights suffered an 83-79 loss to Clarion on Wednesday and have now lost two straight games and three of their last four. They look to snap that string on Saturday, February 1 as the second half of PSAC divisional play begins. Gannon plays at California (Pa.) with tipoff at the Convocation Center set for 3:00 p.m.
 
Despite the current dry spell Gannon has some cushion in the PSAC West, holding a four-game lead over Slippery Rock and Edinboro who are 7-6. The Golden Knights are 11-2 in league play and 16-5 overall. They were ranked 23rd in this week's D2CSC Div. II Top 25.
 
California (Pa.) has battled a host of injuries this season and a team that was chosen the preseason favorite in the Western Division sits at 11-10 overall and 6-7 in the PSAC West. The Vulcans stopped a two-game losing streak with a 78-74 win over Indiana (Pa.) on Wednesday.
 
Gannon has also had its fair share of injuries this year and that is light contributing to a sudden dip on offense. The Golden Knights still lead the PSAC and rank eighth in Division II at 93.6 ppg. But after scoring 100-or-more points in seven of the first 16 games but the Golden Knights have been held under 80 points in three of the last four games.
 
While Gannon suffered the loss to Clarion on Wednesday the good news was the return of two starters. Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) had missed the previous game but returned to record his 11th double-double of the season. Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) returned after missing the previous five games. The grad student guard started and played 22 minutes, contributing five points in his return.
 
Following the Cal game the Golden Knights have back-to-back home games against Edinboro (Feb. 5) and Indiana (Pa.) (Feb. 8). They then play three straight road games

The Knight Watch:
Record:  16-5, 11-2 PSAC West
Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli (1st year)
Top Players: Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) (G, 6-5, So., 19.1 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 69-of-185 3's, 28 stls., 18 blks.); Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) (F, 6-9, So., 14.9 ppg., 10.8 rpg., 53.4 FG%, 29 stls., 19 blks.); Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) (G, 6-2, Fr., 13.7 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 47-of-119 3's, 84 asts., 39 stls.);
Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) (G, 6-1, Gr., 12.1 ppg., 17-of-55 3's, 43 asts., 25 stls.)
  • Gannon suffered its second straight loss and third in the last four games on Wednesday with an 83-79 loss to Clarion. It snapped a 17-game winning streak against Clarion and a string of 29 consecutive home victories. The Golden Knights were done in by a 15-0 run by Clarion early in the game. They would rally later in the second half to take a one-point lead but the Golden Eagles hit a number of big shots down the stretch for the upset.
  • The loss left Gannon at 11-2 in PSAC West action, but with Slippery Rock also losing the Golden Knights maintained a four-game lead in the Western Division standings over SRU and Edinboro. Gannon is 16-5 overall and entered the week ranked 23rd in the D2CSC Top 25.
  • First-year head coach Easton Bazzoli's team has battled a host of injuries this year and he has yet to field the entire roster this year. Right now he has to find a way to overcome a surprising offensive slump. Gannon has shot under 40 percent in three of the last five games and has trailed by double figures in the first half in three of the last four games. Despite that Gannon continues to rank as one of the top scoring teams in Division II at 93.6 ppg., good for first in the PSAC and eighth in Division II.
  • One players who has avoided the scoring slump is Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge). The 6-foot-5 sophomore matched his career high with 29 points against Clarion, making 5-of-12 3-pointers. He has boosted his average to 19.1 ppg., good for fourth in the PSAC, while averaging 21.4 ppg. over the last seven outings. He has had five 20-point games in that stretch. Shelton's specialty is the 3-pointer. He leads the PSAC in 3-pointers made per game (3.3) and has made 69-of-185.
Scouting California (Pa.)
Record:  11-10, 6-7 PSAC West
Head Coach: Danny Sancomb (7th year at Cal, 18th year overall)
Top Players: Donald Whitehead, Jr. (G, 5-10, Jr., 18.6 ppg., 75 asts., 49-of-123 3's); Cam Polak (G, 6-2, R-Jr., 18.2 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 48 asts., 59-of-162 3's, 94.3 FT%); Jordyn Buchanon (G/F, 6-4, Fr., 10.6 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 29-of-84 3's); Dalman Alexander (F, 6-8, So., 7.8 ppg., 7.4 rpg., 28 blks.); Keondre DeShields (F, 6-4, Sr., 9.1 ppg., 4.1 rpg.)
  • After being chosen the preseason favorite in the PSAC West California (Pa.) has battled numerous injuries this season. It has been an up-and-down season for the Vulcans. They opened the year with a six-game winning streak and climbed to fourth in the Division II rankings. But that was followed by a seven-game losing streak. Cal snapped a two-game skid on Wednesday with an 78-74 win vs. Indiana (Pa.). All told, Cal is 11-10 and 6-7 in the PSAC West.
  • Head coach Danny Sancomb has had to use ten different players as starters, with Cam Polak the only Vulcan to start all 21 games. Keith Palek III, a multi-talented 6-foot-8 senior and 1,000-point scorer, has missed all but six games with an injury. Bryson Lucas, a 6-foot-7 junior who was the 2024 PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year, has played in just three games.
  • Sancomb can still call on a pair of outstanding scorers in Donald Whitehead, Jr., a 5-foot-10 junior, and Polak. They rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in the PSAC in scoring. Whtehead is averaging 18.6 ppg. with 75 assists. He has made 49-of-123 3-pointers.
  • Polak, a 6-foot-2 redshirt junior, is not far behind at 18.2 ppg. and is one of the top 3-point threats in the conference with 59 three's in 162 attempts. He also leads the PSAC in free throw percentage at 94.3 pct. (83-of-88).
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Gannon begins a two-game homestand on Wednesday, February 5 hosting Edinboro. Tipoff at the Highmark Events Center is 7:30 p.m. Gannon won the first meeting 100-84 thanks to a 30-1 run to end the game.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ernest Shelton

#4 Ernest Shelton

G
6' 5"
Sophomore
Justin DeBuck

#5 Justin DeBuck

G
6' 1"
Graduate Student
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
Justin DeBuck

#5 Justin DeBuck

6' 1"
Graduate Student
G
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

6' 9"
Sophomore
F