Gannon Uses Late Free Throws to Hold Off Mounties 81-76

MANSFIELD – Matt Tamanosky recorded his sixth 20-point game of the season but Gannon used clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to hold off Mansfield 81-76 in a PSAC crossover contest on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

Gannon, currently in second-place in the PSAC West, connected on nine out of ten free throws over the final two and a half minutes of the game to hold off a Mountaineer comeback attempt.

Mansfield got off to slow start, trailing 24-16 midway through the first half before using a 14-2 run over a three minute span and taking a 30-26 advantage on a 3-pointer by Cedrick Powell with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

Gannon retook the lead 35-32 at halftime and would extend its advantage to 48-39 five minutes into the second half,

Mansfield countered, cutting the score to 50-48 on a layup by Malik Carter and still trailed by two points after a Da'Quan Jones 3-pointer with just under nine minutes remaining.

The Golden Knights used an 8-0 run to increase the lead to 65-55 on a 3-pointer by Matthew Dogan with seven minutes to play. Mansfield chipped away , cutting the lead to 72-69 on a pair of free throws by Carter with 1:18 to play and again pulling to within three points 23 second later.

Zay Jackson, who led Gannon with a game-high 29 points, hit six free throws in the final minute to thwart a last-minute rally.

Both teams scored 26 field goals but Gannon hit ten 3-points to Mansfield's seven.

In addition to his 20 points, Tamanosky pulled down seven rebounds. Carter recorded his second straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Jones had his third consecutive t game in double-figures with 12 points. Jahyde Gardiner chipped in with 10 points.

In addition to Jackson's 29-point performance, Evan Phoenix recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds for Gannon.

Mansfield travels to East Stroudsburg this Wednesday