The No. 9 Gannon men's basketball team delivered a statement in its home opener and the first game of the 40th Annual Gary Miller Classic, rolling past Virginia State 95–53 on Saturday evening inside the Highmark Events Center.

The Golden Knights controlled all 40 minutes, using a dominant 20–0 run in the first half and a barrage of three-pointers to move into Saturday's championship game.

Gannon knocked down 16 three-pointers on 42 attempts, finishing just one shy of tying the school record for attempts in a single game (43).

Behind swarming defense and 39 points off turnovers, the Golden Knights built a 49–27 halftime lead and never looked back, pushing the margin to as many as 51 points.

Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) led the attack with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) added 14 points and Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) chipped in 12.

Eleven different Golden Knights reached the scoring column as Gannon's depth overwhelmed the Trojans throughout the night.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: Gannon 95, Virginia State 53
Records: Gannon 4–1; Virginia State 1–3
Location: Highmark Events Center – Erie, Pa.
Date: November 29, 2025

THE KNIGHT CAP

• 20–0 Breakaway Run Sets the Tone: Trailing 11–10 early, the Golden Knights exploded for a 20–0 run over a five-minute stretch to seize full control and build a 30–11 advantage in a 95–53 victory over Virginia State.
• Nearly a School Record: Gannon attempted 42 threes, just one short of the program record of 43.
• Balanced, Efficient Scoring: Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) (16), Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) (14), Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) (12), and Lathan Coleman (Lauderhill, Fla./South Plantation) (11) led six Knights with nine or more points. 
• Defensive Havoc: Gannon turned Virginia State over 32 times, converting them into 39 points.
• Dominant Bench Production: The bench poured in 44 points, fueling the decisive 95–53 win.
• Tournament Update: Lake Erie set a Gary Miller Classic tournament record with 126–87 win over Mansfield in Game 2, setting up Saturday's championship matchup.
• Home Opener Success: The night doubled as the home opener for the No. 9 Golden Knights, who improved to 4–1 on the year.

 
Up Next
Gannon advances to the Championship Game of the 40th Annual Gary Miller Classic, where the Golden Knights will take on Lake Erie, who set a new tournament scoring record with 126 points vs. Mansfield in Friday's second game.

Saturday's schedule begins with Virginia State vs. Mansfield at 2:00 PM, followed by Gannon vs. Lake Erie in the Classic title game.
 
This story was written using the support of AI.