Victor Desmond vs. Edinboro
Bryce Dolak

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

Golden Knights Wrap Up Three-Game Road Swing at Pitt-Johnstown

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (20-6, 15-3 PSAC West) at PITT-JOHNSTOWN MOUNTAIN CATS (11-14, 7-11 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: UPJ Sports Center l Johnstown, Pa.
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THE GANNON-PITT-JOHNSTOWN SERIES
Gannon leads 37-21
Gannon has won the last three games in the series after being swept in 2022-23. After sweeping last year's game Gannon held off UPJ in this year's first meeting 91-83. The series dates back to 1980-81.
 
Last Meeting:  Jan. 22, 2025 – at Gannon 91, Pitt-Johnstown 83 I RECAP
Gannon made big plays down the stretch to hold off the Mountain Cats. The lead changed hands six times in the second half before Tasman Goodrick's (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) layup off a pretty pass from Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) gave the Golden Knights the lead for good on a layup off a pretty pass from Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) at 77-76. The lead grew to six points at 85-79 with a minute remaining but back-to-back UPJ buckets left the Golden Knights clinging to an 85-83 lead with 34 seconds remaining. Mike Montano (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) stepped up and made four free throws for an 89-83 lead with 19 seconds to play. Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) and Goodrick scored 22 points apiece to lead the Golden Knights.
 

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon warps up a three-game road trip looking to extend its winning streak to five games. The Golden Knights opened the trip with a dominating 84-59 win at Slippery Rock, followed by a come-from-behind 78-65 victory at Clarion last Saturday.
 
Now the Golden Knights face a Pitt-Johnstown team that is in the thick of the race for the final two Western Division playoff berths. Gannon has already locked down the top seed in the PSAC West for the second straight year with a 15-3 record. The Golden Knights also made it back-to-back 20-win seasons at Clarion and are now 20-6. UPJ is 11-14 and 7-11 in the PSAC West.
 
Last Saturday's win at Clarion featured plenty of big swings. Gannon jumped out to a 25-11 lead but the Golden Eagles ended up leading 36-35 at the half thanks to a 15-0 run. They then opened the second half with 15 straight points to go ahead 51-35. That's when Gannon – and most notably Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) – came alive. All told over the final 14 minutes Gannon outscored Clarion 43-14, turning a 16-point deficit into a 13-point win.   
 
First-year head coach Easton Bazzoli has done a remarkable job despite never playing with his full roster for one game this season. While the Golden Knights once again rank among the top scoring teams in Division II he has transformed this team into one that is playing great defense.
 
Gannon averages 91.5 ppg., good for eighth in Division II.  They have scored 100-or-more points in seven games, and 90-or-more 14 times. But they have gone ten straight games without reaching 100 points, scoring no more than 84 points in the last seven games. But during the four-game winning streak Gannon has held opponents to just 65.0 ppg. and three of those four opponents shot 35.0 percent or less from the floor.,
 
Following Saturday's game the Golden Knights wrap up the regular season hosting Seton Hill on Saturday, March 1. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Highmark Events Center with Senior Day festivities to take place prior to the game.

The Knight Watch:
Record:  20-6, 15-3 PSAC West
Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli (1st year)
Top Players: Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) (G, 6-5, So., 17.8 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 78-of-215 3's, 31 stls., 21 blks.); Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) (F, 6-9, So., 15.5 ppg., 10.6 rpg., 56.2 FG%, 37 stls., 24 blks.); Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) (G, 6-2, Fr., 13.3 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 52-of-132 3's, 112 asts., 45 stls.);
Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) (G, 6-1, Gr., 12.2 ppg., 23-of-66 3's, 58 asts., 30 stls.)
  • Gannon has clinched the top seed in the PSAC West with a 15-3 record in league play.  It marks the second time Gannon has won back-to-back PSAC West regular season crowns. The Golden Knights ran their winning streak to four straight games with a 78-65 comeback win at Clarion last Saturday.
  • That victory gave Gannon a 20-6 record, the second straight year with 20 wins. The Golden Knights were among ten teams listed in the first set of NCAA Div. II Atlantic Region rankings which came out on Wednesday. The first set are in alphabetical order.
  • Gannon trailed by 16 points early in the second quarter but proceeded to outscore Clarion 43-14 over the final 14 minutes. Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) took over the game.  After scoring just four points in the first half Goodrick added 25 points in the second half to finish with 29 points. The 6-foot-9 sophomore added 10 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season. He was rewarded for his efforts by the PSAC. He was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week for the second time and he has also been named the Defensive Athlete of the Week three times. Goodrick is averaging 15.5 ppg. and 10.6 rpg. while shooting 56.2 percent from the floor. He ranks second in the PSAC and 12th in Division II in rebounding.
  • Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) also enjoyed a big game finishing with a season-high 23 points. The grad student guard made 9-of-13 shots including all three 3-pointers, adding five rebounds and three assists.
  • Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) made just one basket against Clarion but still played a huge role in the win. The freshman guard dished out a career-high 11 assists. Prosser is averaging 13.3 ppg. and 5.8 rpg. while leading the team in assists (112) and steals (45). He ranks eighth in the PSAC in assists per game and third in steals per game.
  • Looking for a player who flies under the radar but is a huge contributor? Try Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska). The 6-foot-7 junior has defended virtually every position on the court. He averages 7.6 ppg. and 4.3 rpg..
Scouting Pitt-Johnstown
Record: 11-14, 7-11 PSAC        
Head Coach: Bob Rukavina (36th year)
Top Players: Ryan Smith (G, 6-3, Sr., 16.6 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 36-of-97 3's, 48 asts.); Jay Rose (G/F, 6-4, Fr., 14.5 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 43-of-108 3's); Baden Forup (F, 6-8, So., 13.3 ppg., 6.4 rpg., .595 FG%); Vinnie Cugini (G, 6-2, So., 9.1 ppg.); Sean Dillon (G, 5-10, Gr., 8.2 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 120 asts., 38 stls.) 
  • Pitt-Johnstown suffered through an uncharacteristic season under long-time head coach Bob Rukavina a year ago, ending at 6-22. Rukavina has guided the Mountain Cats to an 11-14 record this year. They are in a battle for the final Western Division tournament berths. Seton Hill and Indiana (Pa.) and at 7-10, with UPJ at 7-11 and Clarion showing a 6-13 record. Two of those teams will fill out the field.
  • Rukavina is in his 36th season and has a 565-409 career record. In addition to all five starters returning he brought in nine new players. They included three transfers -- Sean Dillon (Seton Hill), Adam Bilinsky (Mercyhurst), and Baden Forup (Capital (OH)).
  • Ryan Smith, a senior guard, leads UPJ in scoring at 16.6 ppg. He has scored 1,237 career points. Forup, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, had a big game in the first meeting with Gannon, totaling 26 points and 12 rebounds. He has boosted his average to 13.3 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. Sean Dillon is a transfer from Seton Hill. The grad student has topped 1,000 points for his career and has 120 assists, ranking second in the PSAC.
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Gannon will celebrate Senior Day while concluding the regular season on Saturday, March 1 hosting Seton Hill. The contest gets underway at 3:00 p.m. at the Highmark Events Center. Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) and Isiah Warfield (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies.




 
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Players Mentioned

Mike Montano

#1 Mike Montano

G/F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Ernest Shelton

#4 Ernest Shelton

G
6' 5"
Sophomore
Isiah Warfield

#3 Isiah Warfield

G
6' 5"
Graduate Student
Justin DeBuck

#5 Justin DeBuck

G
6' 1"
Graduate Student
Victor Desmond

#15 Victor Desmond

G/F
6' 7"
Junior
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

F
6' 9"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Mike Montano

#1 Mike Montano

6' 7"
Sophomore
G/F
Ernest Shelton

#4 Ernest Shelton

6' 5"
Sophomore
G
Isiah Warfield

#3 Isiah Warfield

6' 5"
Graduate Student
G
Justin DeBuck

#5 Justin DeBuck

6' 1"
Graduate Student
G
Victor Desmond

#15 Victor Desmond

6' 7"
Junior
G/F
Pace Prosser

#22 Pace Prosser

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Tasman Goodrick

#23 Tasman Goodrick

6' 9"
Sophomore
F