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

Golden Knights Play Middle Game of Three-Game Road Trip at Clarion

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (19-6, 14-3 PSAC West) at CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (11-12, 6-11 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: Tippin Gymnasium l Clarion, Pa.
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LIVE VIDEO
 
 
THE GANNON-CLARION SERIES
Gannon leads 50-14
In a series that first began in 1948-49 Gannon had won the last 17 meetings before the first meeting this season when Clarion handed the Golden Knights an 83-79 defeat.
Last Meeting: Jan. 29, 2025 – Clarion 83, at Gannon 79 I RECAP
Clarion ended a pair of streaks while winning at the Highmark Events Center. The Golden Eagles snapped a 17-game losing streak to Gannon and also ended Gannon's 29-game home winning streak. Clarion used a 15-0 run early in the game and forced Gannon to play catch-up the rest of the way. Gannon eventually regained the lead at 68-67 with just over five minutes to play but the Golden Eagles just kept hitting big shots down the stretch. Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) paced Gannon with 29 points, making 5-of-12 3-pointers, but the Golden Knights shot just 36.8 percent for the game. Clarion shot an even 50.0 percent. The Golden Eagles were led by Trey Nelson's 22 points.
 

ERIE, Pa. – After losing three straight game Gannon has started to look like the team that won 15 games in a row not that long ago. The Golden Knights improved to 19-6 and 14-3 in the PSAC West with an 84-59 win at Slippery Rock on Wednesday.
 
That left the Golden Knights with a three-game winning streak and a victory away from a 20-win season under first-year head coach Easton Bazzoli. They have clinched the top seed in the Western Division with a four-game lead and have earned a first round bye.
 
Clarion snapped a 17-game losing streak to Gannon in the first meeting despite playing without the PSAC's leading scorer, Cam Kearney. The Golden Eagles are 11-12 overall and 6-11 in the Western Division. They sit in last place in the division but just one win separates the fourth to eighth place teams. Clarion has lost back-to-back games following a 73-71 loss to California (Pa.) on Wednesday.
 
Over the last two seasons Gannon has been known for its high-scoring, fast-paced style. That is still the case as the Golden Knights lead the PSAC in scoring at 92.0 ppg., good for eighth in Division II. But as Wednesday's game showed this team can get after it defensively. Gannon held Slippery Rock 17 points under its scoring average while limiting SRU to 31.3 percent from the floor.
 
Following Saturday's game the Golden Knights wrap up their three-game road trip at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, February 22. It marks the final regular season road game for the Golden Knights.

The Knight Watch:
Record:  19-6, 14-3 PSAC West
Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli (1st year)
Top Players: Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) (G, 6-5, So., 18.1 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 77-of-209 3's, 30 stls., 20 blks.); Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) (F, 6-9, So., 15.0 ppg., 10.6 rpg., 55.7 FG%, 32 stls., 22 blks.); Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) (G, 6-2, Fr., 13.8 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 52-of-129 3's, 101 asts., 45 stls.);
Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) (G, 6-1, Gr., 11.6 ppg., 20-of-63 3's, 55 asts., 30 stls.)
  • Gannon has clinched the top seed in the PSAC West with a 14-3 record in league play. With wins in three straight games, now the Golden Knights seek a 20th win after improving to 19-6 with an 84-59 win at Clarion on Wednesday.
  • Wednesday's win at Slippery Rock saw the Golden Knights go from a 9-7 lead to a 41-14 advantage. Gannon held SRU to 31.3 percent from the floor and hold a 59-42 advantage on the glass.
  • Five players scored in double figures, led by Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) who recorded his 13th double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The 6-foot-9 sophomore is averaging 15.0 ppg. and 10.6 rpg., the latter figure ranking second in the PSAC.
  • While Goodrick provides the inside game Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) is one of several Golden Knights who bomb away from the outside. A 6-foot-5 sophomore, Shelton is seventh in the PSAC in scoring at 18.1 ppg. He has made 77-of-209 3-pointers, tied for first in the PSAC In 3-pointers per game. The 77 three's rank ninth in a season.
  • A key component of the recent resurgence is the improved production from the bench. On Wednesday the unit contributed 29 points and 28 rebounds. Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) finished with 11 points and five steals while Rocco Morabito (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) added a season-high 10 points. Sarver, a junior guard, scored 14 points in the previous game against Indiana (Pa.).
  • Mason Kemp (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley), a 6-foot-7 freshman, pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds while scoring eight points.
Scouting Clarion
Record: 11-12, 6-11 PSAC West        
Head Coach: Damian Pitts (6th year)
Top Players: Cam Kearney (G, 6-6, Jr., 21.9 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 32-of-69 3's, 127-of-148 FTs); Jeremy Thomas II (F, 6-5, R-So., 10.8 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 50.3 FG%, 30 blks.); Gavin Cote (G, 6-5, R-So., 10.0 ppg., 55-of-166 3's); Justice Easter (G, 6-5, Jr., 9.3 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 50 asts., 20 blks.); Trey Nelson (G, 6-0, Jr., 9.4 ppg., 129 asts., 38 stls., 30-of-78 3's)
  • Clarion has eclipsed last year's win total when the Golden Eagles finished at 8-20. In fact, Clarion comes in at 11-12, the most wins since the 2015-16 team finished at 14-16. The Golden Eagles are chasing one of five remaining tournament berths, coming in at 6-11. Clarions has lost its last two games, including a 73-71 setback to California (Pa.) on Wednesday.
  • Head coach Damian Pitts has built an impressive group of young players, led by Cam Kearney. A 6-foot-6 junior, Kearney leads the PSAC in scoring at 21.9 ppg. Kearney was a second team All-PSAC West selection last year when he averaged 16.6 ppg. He has 1,227 career points. 
  • Trey Nelson, a 6-foot-0 junior, has 129 assists and leads the PSAC in assists per game (5.6). Gavin Cote is one of the top 3-point threats in the conference, making 55-of-166.
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Gannon concludes its three-game road trip on Saturday, February 22 playing at Pitt-Johnstown. It is the final road game of the regular season before the Golden Knights return home to wrap up the regular season against Seton Hill on March 1.
 
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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
Layne Sarver

#12 Layne Sarver

G
6' 6"
Junior
Rocco Morabito

#14 Rocco Morabito

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

F
6' 9"
Sophomore
Mason Kemp

#33 Mason Kemp

F
6' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ernest Shelton

#4 Ernest Shelton

6' 5"
Sophomore
G
Justin DeBuck

#5 Justin DeBuck

6' 1"
Graduate Student
G
Layne Sarver

#12 Layne Sarver

6' 6"
Junior
G
Rocco Morabito

#14 Rocco Morabito

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

6' 9"
Sophomore
F
Mason Kemp

#33 Mason Kemp

6' 7"
Freshman
F