In a top-10 national showdown at the Highmark Events Center, the No. 10 Gannon men's basketball team delivered a statement performance, defeating No. 2 Daemen, 79–61, on Wednesday night.
The Golden Knights used a dominant second half to pull away from the Wildcats, snapping Daemen's nation-leading 51-game regular-season winning streak in front of a season-high crowd during Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night and a BLACKOUT atmosphere.
Gannon carried a narrow 37–36 lead into halftime before seizing control after the break with a 42–25 second-half advantage. The Golden Knights turned defensive pressure into transition offense, forcing turnovers on consecutive possessions and opening the game up midway through the second half.
Daemen entered the matchup owning the longest active regular-season winning streak in the country, having won 51 straight games dating back to Feb. 9, 2024.
Easton Bazzoli's Golden Knights brought that streak to an end with its second-half surge, handing the Wildcats their first regular-season loss in nearly two years.
The victory also marked Gannon's second win against a nationally ranked opponent this season, as the Golden Knights previously defeated No. 23 Findlay, 101–79, on Nov. 22.
Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) led the Golden Knights with 16 points, while Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) added 15. Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) and Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) each chipped in 11 points, and Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) finished with eight as Gannon placed six players in the scoring column.
THE GAME FACTS
Score: Gannon 79, Daemen 61
Records: Gannon 17–2 • Daemen 20–1
Location: Highmark Events Center (Erie, Pa.)
Date: January 21, 2026
THE KNIGHT CAP
- Streaks Ended: Daemen entered the night riding a 51-game regular-season winning streak and an 18-game road winning streak. Gannon ended both with its second-half surge.
- Second-Half Control: The Golden Knights outscored the Wildcats 42–25 after halftime to pull away.
- Ranked Wins: The victory marked Gannon's second win against a nationally ranked opponent this season after defeating No. 23 Findlay, 101–79, on Nov. 22.
- Balanced Attack: Six Golden Knights scored at least eight points, led by Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) (16) and Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) (15), while Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) and Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) each added 11 and Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) chipped in eight.
- Rebounds & Assists: Gannon was led by Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) with six rebounds and five assists, while Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) added five rebounds and Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) chipped in four on the glass.
- Shooting Numbers: Gannon shot 41.9 percent from the field and held Daemen to 42.9 percent shooting, limiting the Wildcats to 28.0 percent from three-point range, including just 18.2 percent in the second half.
- Pressure Defense: Gannon forced 27 turnovers, continuing its Division II-leading average in turnovers forced per game.
- Fast-Break Success: The Golden Knights finished with 25 fast-break points and 25 points off turnovers.
- National Spotlight: The matchup featured three players on the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, including Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley)for Gannon, while Daemen's Zach Philipkoski finished with a game-high 21 points, and Justin Hemphill added nine.
- Home Dominance: Gannon improved to 9–0 this season at the Highmark Events Center and extended its series advantage to 12–2.
- Ranked Battle: Daemen entered ranked No. 2 in the NABC Coaches Poll for the fifth consecutive week, while Gannon moved up to No. 10 earlier in the week.
Up Next
The Golden Knights will hit the road on Saturday, January 24, traveling to Pitt-Johnstown for a PSAC matchup inside the Sports Center in Johnstown, Pa. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.
This story was written using the support of AI.
