ERIE, PA – Gannon head men’s basketball coach John T. Reilly announced the program’s 2015-16 regular-season schedule Thursday afternoon. The 26-game slate includes a pair of preseason exhibitions against NCAA Division I opponents, 22 contests against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents, the 32nd Annual Gary Miller Classic and the Annual Porreco Game. All mandated crossover contests will count in the standings for the second consecutive season.
The 2015-16 schedule kicks off with a bang as Gannon engages with two quality NCAA Division I opponents in back-to-back nights. The Golden Knights open the preseason Friday, November 6 at the University of Pittsburgh. The program will make its first appearance at the Petersen Events Center since playing an exhibition game on November 14, 2004.
The University of Pittsburgh returns seven of its top 10 scorers from last year’s 19-15 squad, including All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) candidates Jamel Artis and Michael Young. The forward tandem represents the only two returning ACC players to rank in the top 20 in scoring and rebounding a year ago. Artis averaged 13.6 points and six rebounds as a sophomore, while Young posted 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in his second season at Pitt.
One night later, Gannon heads to George Washington for a 7 p.m. exhibition tip-off. The Colonials return 12 of 13 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished 22-13 overall, tying for the seventh-most wins in the program’s 101-season history. George Washington has recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons and 13 all-time. The Colonials have won 46 games during the last two seasons, representing the fourth-best two-year span in program history.
Gannon has traditionally played well against NCAA Division I programs. The Golden Knights dropped a tight 74-63 decision at Siena last season and a 67-59 verdict at the University of Dayton in 2008.
The PSAC Tournament format remains the same with six teams from each division qualifying. First-round contests kick off the tournament Saturday, February 27 with the sixth seed playing at the third seed and the fifth seed playing at the fourth seed within each division. The top two seeds will receive first-round byes.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, March 1. The 3/6 winner will play at the second seed while the 4/5 winner will play at the top seed. The Final Four format will feature crossover match-ups in the semifinals. The 2015 PSAC Men’s Basketball Final Four will be hosted by the top remaining seed in the Eastern Division.
The 32nd annual Gary Miller Classic scheduled for November 27-28 returns to a championship format after using a traditional classic format with predetermined pairings last year. The opening night pits Ashland against Alderson Broaddus at 5:30 p.m., before Gannon battles Le Moyne at 7:30 p.m. The second night begins with the consolation game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the championship game at 7:30 p.m.
The loaded field includes four teams that averaged 18.5 victories last season. Gannon leads the group with 23 victories. Alderson Broaddus recorded 22 wins. Ashland and Le Moyne added 19 and 16 victories, respectively. Le Moyne defeated the Golden Knights during the first night of the Gary Miller Classic each of the last two seasons.
Gannon’s 2015-16 schedule features 14 home games and 12 road contests. In addition to the 32nd Annual Gary Miller Classic, the non-conference schedule includes a home contest against Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday, December 12 and a road affair at Le Moyne on Saturday, February 13. Wheeling Jesuit went 21-10 a year ago.
The 2015-16 schedule includes plenty of opponents who posted winning records last season. The Golden Knights’ 2015-16 opponents won 56 percent (286-222) of their games last season. Three of those opponents played in the 2015 NCAA Division II Tournament: Slippery Rock, Indiana (Pa.) and Mercyhurst. The non-conference schedule is brutal with the five teams winning 66 percent (78-40) of their contests in 2014-15.
After opening the regular season with a road contest at Clarion, Gannon begins a five-game homestand. The run concludes Tuesday, December 1 against NCAA Division II national runner-up Indiana (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center.
The month of December features three home games and three road affairs. In addition to the IUP contest, Gannon fans will be treated to a Wheeling Jesuit squad that went 21-10 last season. The Cardinals visit the ‘Mill on Saturday, December 12. The first half comes to a close against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, December 19 with an evening doubleheader at home. The Golden Knights are then off for 14 days before returning to action.
The second-half home schedule includes six night doubleheaders and the traditional afternoon twinbill for the Pink Zone and Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame festivities. Both events will take place Saturday, January 23 against Slippery Rock. The women tip off at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.
Gannon gets rival Edinboro on the Hammermill Center floor Wednesday, January 27 for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The Golden Knights eventually head down the stretch with four of their final six regular-season games on the road. The February home slate wraps up with the Annual Porreco Game against Mercyhurst on Wednesday, February 24. It will also be Senior Night. The two rivals will face off at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Wednesday, January 20.
Last season, Gannon captured its second consecutive PSAC Western Division regular-season title and second PSAC Tournament championship since joining the league in 2008-09. The Golden Knights recorded their third consecutive 20-win season, finishing 23-9 overall. The victory total represented the program’s most since the 2008-09 Elite Eight team went 30-4.
Head coach John T. Reilly‘s club won eight consecutive games and 12 of 13 during the stretch run. The Golden Knights were 6-1 in February, solidifying their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 24th in program history. Gannon finished as the country’s top-ranked defensive unit, allowing 56.6 points per game.
