NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINAL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Gannon University men's basketball team's dream season came to an end on Tuesday afternoon after a loss to Cal State San Bernardino in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship quarterfinals, 99-65. The Golden Knights, who finished the season 32-3 overall, engineered an incredible turnaround from a 3-23 record in 2022-23 thanks to new head coach Jordan Fee and his unique, up-tempo playstyle.
Cal State snapped a 21-game Gannon winstreak by relying on Sedrick Altman (37 points, 7-10 from three-point range) and LeAndrew Knight (29 points on 12-13 shooting), who simply could not miss. Gannon's Josh Omojafo led the Golden Knights with 19 points, while Zach Hobbs added 12. The Golden Knights' 65 points was the team's lowest point total of the season, with the second-lowest total of 67 coming in Gannon's previous game -- the 67-65 victory over Charleston in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Atlantic Region championship game.
ATLANTIC REGION CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon Golden Knights, undefeated at home in 2023-24, kept that streak alive with a dramatic 67-65 win over Charleston in the NCAA DIvision II Men's Basketball Atlantic Region championship game. Gannon, who shot just 17% from three point range in the game, spotted Charleston a 15-4 lead to begin the game but battled back and orchestrated a frantic end to the game to complete the comeback. Gannon's Lyle Tipton scored to tie the game at 61 with under three minutes to play, then Josh Omojafo scored four of his game-high 25 points with a layup followed by a pair of free throws to keep the game tied, 65-65. Solid defense earned Gannon the final possession, where a missed layup was tipped back in by Nigel Haughton at the buzzer--giving the team its only lead of the game--to secure the win and keep Gannon's season alive.
The Golden Knights head to the Elite Eight for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2009, with play beginning next Tuesday, March 26 in Evansville, Ind. Gannon earned the No. 3 seed in the bracket and matches up with Cal State San Bernardino at 1:00 p.m.
Along with the Gannon women's basketball program also qualifying for the Elite Eight, the Golden Knights become just one of 16 institutions in NCAA history to ever send both a men's and a women's team to the Elite Eight in the same year.
ATLANTIC REGION SEMIFINALS
Gannon defeats West Liberty, 103-88, to advance to Tuesday's Atlantic Region Championship.
Charleston defeats California, 68-67, to end the Vulcans' season with an overall record of 28-5.
INDIANAPOLIS - A trio of
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference men's basketball programs were selected to compete in the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship, as announced by the NCAA late Sunday night.
The No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Region is 2024 PSAC champion Gannon (29-2 overall), who defeated California 89-74 in the 2024 PSAC Championship game on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Knights will host a four-team regional and face Lincoln (PA) on Friday, March 15 at 5 p.m.
The other pair of teams playing at Gannon's regional in Erie, Pa. include No. 5 seed Millersville (24-6 overall) which will have to make a trip to Erie for the second time in as many weeks. The Marauders will face No. 4 seed West Liberty on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The No. 2 seed, California (27-4 overall), will host the other pod of this year's Atlantic Regional and face No. 7 seed West Virginia St. on Friday, March 15 at 5 p.m.