The 2014-15 PSAC basketball season is well under way, and excitement has not been lacking so far.
The PSAC West’s preseason favorite, Gannon, remains atop the league’s leaderboard with a perfect 4-0 mark in conference action despite holding just a 4-4 overall record. This is the first time since joining the league in 2008 that Gannon has started with a 4-0 league mark.
The Golden Knights were able to knock off then-No. 5 IUP last week, 61-56, in overtime. Gannon outscored the Crimson Hawks, 10-5, in the overtime period for the win. The win was the 12th overall for Gannon against nationally-ranked opponents under head coach John T. Reilly.
IUP also lost to Mercyhurst earlier in the week. The back-to-back losses cost IUP 18 spots in the NABC poll, pushing the Crimson Hawks back to No. 23.
Gannon got a big night from Raphell Thomas-Edwards in the win over IUP. The senior scored 22 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting effort and hauled in 12 rebounds. He’s currently leading the team with 8.4 boards per night. Girban Smith has settled in nicely with the Golden Knights after transferring in prior to last season. He leads the team with 12.9 points per game.
Looking at the rest of the standings, here’s how it trickles down: Mercyhurst (5-3, 3-1 PSAC), Slippery Rock (6-2, 2-1), Cal (6-3, 2-2), Pitt-Johnstown (4-3, 2-2), IUP (7-2, 1-2), Clarion (3-3, 1-2), Edinboro (3-4, 1-3), Seton Hill (1-5, 0-3).
Performance of the Week:
– Slippery Rock beat Ohio Eastern, 134-69. In the win, SRU set the school record for made 3-pointers (22) and points scored (134). Desma Nicholson also set the individual school record for made 3-pointers with nine. Nicholson had 27 points. Jiles Allen also added a double-double of 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting and 10 rebounds.
Other notables:
– Mercyhurst’s Gerrae Williams was named PSAC West player of the week for accounting for 34 points, five rebounds, three steals and seven in assists over two PSAC wins.
– Edinboro’s Jaymon Mason was named PSAC West freshman of the week for averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists over two games.
– Clarion coach Marcess Williams recorded his first PSAC victory with an 80-73 decision over Cal.
Season stat leaders:
– Scoring: Henri Wade-Chatman 18.9 (Edinboro)
– Rebounding: Richard Smith 9.3 (Cal)
– Assists: Devante Chance 6.1 (IUP)
Photo Credit: Gannon Athletics
