Gannon 2024-25 men's basketball team photo

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

Golden Knights Face Millersville in Rematch of 2024 PSAC Semifinals

No. 5E MILLERSVILLE MARAUDERS (19-11, 13-8 PSAC East) vs. No. 1W GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (22-6, 17-3 PSAC West)
PSAC SEMIFINALS
DATE/TIME: Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: Butcher Center l Shepherdstown, W.Va.
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VIEW AT U PICK 6 TAP HOUSE: Can't make it to Shepherdstown, W.Va. to watch the Gannon-Millersville semifinal game? Gannon fans can view the game live at the U Pick 6 Tap House at 333 State St. Join us for great food, beverages, and Golden Knights basketball.

THE 2024 PSAC TOURNAMENT FIELD
Monday, March 3 – First Round
No. 6W Seton Hill 78, No. 3W Edinboro 74
No. 5W Indiana (Pa.) 69, No. 4W Slippery Rock 54
No. 3E Shepherd 178, No. 6E Shippensburg 62
No. 4E Millersville 78, No. 5E Lock Haven 52
 
Wednesday, March 5 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 GANNON 88, No. 5W Indiana (Pa.) 58
No. 3E Shepherd 79, No. 2E East Stroudsburg 67
No. 4E Millersville (18-11, 13-8 East) 85, West Chester 71
No. 2W California (Pa.) 87, No. 6W Seton Hill 75
 
Saturday, March 8 -- Semifinals (hosted by Shepherd)
No. 1 GANNON (23-6, 17-3 West) vs. No. 4 Millersville (19-11, 13-8 East) – 1:00 p.m.
No. 2 California (Pa.) (18-11, 12-8 West) at No. 3 Shepherd (20-10, 14-7 East) – 3:30 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 9 – Championship
Saturday's semifinal winners – 3:00 p.m.
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC TOURNAMENT
Gannon is making its 12th appearance in the PSAC Tournament since joining the conference in 2008-09, and the first under head coach Easton Bazzoli. The Golden Knights look to win a second straight PSAC championship and fourth overall. In addition to winning the league title a year ago the Golden Knights won the PSAC championship in their first year in the conference and also won in 2014-15. (NOTE: Scores from all Gannon games in the PSAC Tournament can be found at the end of the release.)
 
THE GANNON-MILLERSVILLE SERIES
Gannon leads 13-8
Millersville had won five of the previous seven meetings before Gannon prevailed 98-64 in the PSAC Semifinals last year.
 
Last Meeting: March 9, 2024 – at Gannon 98, Millersville 64 I RECAP
After losing at Millersville earlier in the year Gannon rode a hot-shooting game to a win in last year's PSAC Semifinals. The Golden Knights made their first seven 3-point attempts to jump out to a 52-32 lead at the half. Gannon shot a sizzling 61.0 percent for the game (36-of-59), making 12-of-21 3-pointers, while holding the Marauders to 32.8 percent (19-of-58) and forcing 20 turnovers. Josh Omojafo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean de Brebeuf) led four Golden Knights in double figures with 30 points, with Lyle Tipton (Glenside, Pa./Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy) adding 18.  
 

ERIE, Pa. – For the second year in a row Gannon and Millersville meet in the PSAC Semifinals. A year ago the Golden Knights handed the Marauders a 98-64 defeat on their way to the PSAC championship and eventually a trip to the Elite Eight. The two meet in the first game of the semifinals on Saturday at Shepherd with tipoff at 1:00 p.m.
 
Gannon reached the PSAC Final Four with an impressive 88-58 win over No. 5W Indiana (Pa.) on Wednesday for its seventh win in a row. The Western Division regular season champions, the Golden Knights are now 23-6 under first-year head coach Easton Bazzoli and finished at 17-3 in league play. They are currently second in the latest NCAA Atlantic Region rankings and are tied for 24th in the D2CSC Div. II Top 25. West Liberty is first in the region.
 
Millersville posted the biggest upset in the PSAC Tournament to date, outscoring No. 1E West Chester 53-36 to upset the host Golden Rams 85-71 on Wednesday. Head coach Casey Stitzel has now guided the Marauders to the PSAC Semifinals three of the last four years. They come in at 19-11 overall and were the Eastern Division's fourth seed with a 13-8 record.
 
Millersville entered the PSAC Tournament with back-to-back losses but has now run off two straight wins after opening the tournament with a 78-52 win over Lock Haven.
 
While the seeds held true in the Western Division with Gannon and No. 2W California (Pa.) advancing, the Eastern Division's quarterfinals featured a pair of upsets. In addition to Millersville upending West Chester Shepherd defeated No. 2E East Stroudsburg, in the process earning the right to host the PSAC Final Four at the Butcher Center as the highest remaining Eastern Division seed. The Rams will face California (Pa.) in the other semifinal at 3:30 p.m.
 
The winners of Saturday's semifinals will meet in the 2025 PSAC Championship game on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The winner will capture the conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division II Tournament. The NCAA will announce the entire field on Sunday night at 11:00 p.m.
  
The Knight Watch:
Record:  23-6, 17-3 PSAC West
Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli (1st year)
Top Players: Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) (G, 6-5, So., 17.4 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 83-of-230 3's, 36 stls., 26 blks.); Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) (F, 6-9, So., 15.4 ppg., 10.6 rpg., 55.9 FG%, 38 stls., 26 blks.); Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) (G, 6-2, Fr., 13.6 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 62-of-148 3's, 129 asts., 56 stls.); Justin DeBuck (Broward County, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) (G, 6-1, Gr., 12.5 ppg., 27-of-76 3's, 70 asts., 38 stls.)
  • It was quite the day for Easton Bazzoli on Wednesday. In the wee hours of the morning his wife Katrina gave birth to the couple's second child, a boy. Just over 16 hours later the first-year head coach was presented with his first playoff win, an 88-58 triumph over Indiana (Pa.) in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
  • Gannon enters the PSAC Final Four riding a seven-game winning streak following the win over IUP. The Golden Knights are 23-6 overall and finished at 17-3 in league play. They are among others receiving votes in the latest NABC Division II Top 25 and are tied for 24th in the latest D2CSC Top 25. Gannon remained second in this week's NCAA Atlantic Region poll. West Liberty was first.
  • Unlike the last three games which saw the Golden Knights trailing at halftime, on Wednesday used a late spurt in the first half to lead 40-31 at intermission. They then came out and scored the first seven points of the second half and quickly blew the game open. A hustling defense limited IUP to 31.1 percent shooting from the floor and forced 21 turnovers. Tasman Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College) led four players in double figures with 19 points, adding 12 rebounds for his 16th double-double. Ernest Shelton (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) added 17 points and Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) came off the bench to contribute 15. Another bench performer, Mason Kemp (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley), added 13 rebounds.
  • Three Golden Knights earned All-PSAC West honors on Thursday. Goodrick and Shelton were accorded first team honors while freshman guard Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) earned a spot on the second team. Goodrick, a 6-foot-9 forward from Sydney, Australia who joined the Golden Knights after playing at Cal Baptist last year, is averaging a double-double with 15.4 ppg. and 10.6 rpg. while shooting 55.9 percent from the floor. He is second in the PSAC and 13th in Division II in rebounds per game.
  • Shelton, a 6-foot-5 guard, ranks among the top 3-point threats in the PSAC, making 83-of-230 trifectas. He ranks eighth at Gannon in season 3-pointers and fifth in attempts. He is tied for third in the PSSAC in 3-pointers made per game (2.9). Shelton is averaging a team-high 17.4 ppg. and is tied with Goodrick for the team lead in blocked shots (26).  
  • Prosser regularly fills up the stat sheet. He is averaging 13.6 ppg. and 5.6 rpg., the latter figure second on the team. He leads the team in assists (129) and steals (56) and has made 62-of-148 3-pointers.
  • After leading Division II in scoring a year ago the Golden Knights currently rank seventh in the country at 91.2 ppg. They allow 78.1 ppg., tenth in the PSAC, but over the last six games that figure is 66.8.
Scouting Millersville
Record:  19-11, 13-8 PSAC West        
Head Coach: Casey Stitzel (9th year)
Top Players: Drew Stover (F, 6-8, Sr., 17.3 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 66.0 FG%, 68 asts., 54 blks.); Saraj Ali (F, 6-6, Jr., 14.6 ppg., 7.0 rpg., 59.1 FG%, 20 blks.); Aiden Gair (G, 6-4, R-Jr., 14.2 ppg., 90-of-243 3's, 82 asts.); Jahme Ested (G, 6-2, R-Sr., 12.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 102 asts., 37 stls.); Montell Cooper (G, 6-3, Gr., 11.0 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 59 asts.)
  • Millersville upset top-seeded West Chester on Wednesday 85-71 to advance to the PSAC Final Four for the third time in four years. The No. 4 seed in the Eastern Division, the Marauders come in with a 19-11 record after finishing 13-8 in the PSAC East.
  • The Marauders rank fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 82.0 ppg. while allowing 72.5 ppg. The latter figure also ranks fourth in the conference.
  • Drew Stover was named the PSAC East Athlete of the Year on Thursday. The 6-foot-8 senior leads the team both in scoring (17.3 ppg.), good for ninth in the PSAC, and rebounding (7.2 rpg.). He is second in the PSAC in field goal percentage (66.0 pct.) and blocked shots (54). He is now a three-time All-PSAC East honoree and has 1,251 career points.
  • On Wednesday, Saraj Ali became the third Marauder this season to score his 1,000th career point. Ali played two seasons at Mansfield before scoring 410 with the Marauders this season. Ali is a 6-foot-6 junior who is averaging 14.6 ppg. and 7.0 rpg.
  • Aiden Gahr is averaging 14.2 ppg. and ranks second in the PSAC in 3-pointers made per game while making 90-of-243. The 90 3-pointers is fourth all-time at Millersville.
  • Jahme Ested, a 6-foot-2 redshirt senior, contributes 12.5 ppg. and 5.7 rpg. while leading the team in assists (102) and ranking second in steals (37).
GANNON ALL-TIME RESULTS IN THE PSAC TOURNAMENT
 
2008-09 -- PSAC Champions
March 3 – EDINBORO – W, 89-75
March 6 – CHEYNEY – W, 69-60
March 7 – KUTZTOWN – W, 80-65
2009-10
March 2 – at Indiana(Pa.) – L, 62-63
2012-13
March 5 – SLIPPERY ROCK – L, 58-62 ot
2013-14
March 4 -- SLIPPERY ROCK – W, 73-69 2ot
March 8 – vs. West Chester – L, 76-77 ot
2014-15 – PSAC Champions
March 3 – SLIPPERY ROCK – W, 71-45
March 7 – KUTZTOWN – W, 69-56
March 8 – INDIANA(PA) – W, 69-66
2016-17
March 1 – PITT-JOHNSTOWN – W, 77-67
March 4 – vs. Kutztown – L, 85-91
2017-18
Feb. 28 – SLIPPERY ROCK – W, 77-70
March 3 – vs. Shippensburg – W, 80-71
March 4 – at East Stroudsburg – L, 67-89
2018-19
March 4 – at Pitt-Johnstown – L, 60-70
2019-20
March 2 – at California(Pa.) – L, 58-74
2021-22
Feb. 28 -- at Pitt-Johnstown -- L, 62-78
2023-24 – PSAC CHAMPIONS
March 6 -- INDIANA (PA) -- W, 94-89
March 9 – MILLERSVILLE – W, 98-64
March 10 – CALIFORNIA (PA) – W, 89-74
2024-25
March 5 -- INDIANA (PA) -- W, 88-58
 
(NOTE: There was no PSAC Tournament in
 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic)
 
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Players Mentioned

Josh Omojafo

#4 Josh Omojafo

G
6' 5"
Sophomore
Lyle Tipton

#33 Lyle Tipton

G/F
6' 3"
Graduate Student
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
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

Josh Omojafo

#4 Josh Omojafo

6' 5"
Sophomore
G
Lyle Tipton

#33 Lyle Tipton

6' 3"
Graduate Student
G/F
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
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