The Gannon University men’s basketball team defeated the visiting Seton Hill Griffins by a score of 66-53 in Saturday’s Hall of Fame Game at the Hammermill Center.
The Griffins’ loss gave them a record of 12-8 overall and 4-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West. Gannon improved its overall record to 12-8 and 7-3 in the PSAC West despite having its five-game winning streak snapped Jan. 29 against California University of Pennsylvania.
Adam Blazek played all 40 minutes against Seton Hill and scored 20 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Last Friday, Blazek was named to the Capital One Academic All-District II men’s basketball team. Student-athletes who are named to this team move on to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.
Blazek was complemented by his regular backcourt counterpart of late, as Gibran Smith bucketed seven of his 11 shot attempts from the field including two 3-pointers.
Roger Livramento turned in more big minutes for the Knights, further establishing his emergence as a regular under coach John Reilly.
Livramento scored 13 points and pulled in six rebounds, good for second most on the team for the day. Forward A’Darius Porter led the team on the glass, corralling eight boards.
Reilly said he was happy that his team was able to tally another win in the competitive PSAC West.
The Knights are currently tied for third place in the West and Reilly realizes that complacency is not an option.
Gannon and Slippery Rock are a half-game behind rival Mercyhurst University and a game behind first-place Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
“It just shows you how tough the league is because as we were playing Seton Hill, Cal was at Slippery Rock and that game ended up going to overtime,” Reilly said.
“Anybody can beat anybody on any given day; it just comes down to who plays better and who wants it more on that particular day.”
Gannon will have a chance to get a leg up on Slippery Rock on Wednesday in the Hammermill.
Slippery Rock comes into the contest with a 16-6 overall mark and a 7-3 record in the West, identical to Gannon.
Reilly said he certainly expects a tough game from an opponent that he’s grown to respect in Slippery Rock.
“I think they play extremely hard, they do a great job of rebounding,” Reilly said. “They’re unselfish, tough; they’re well-coached.
“It’s no surprise that they’re as good as they are. They’re that good every year.”
Tip-off time for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
ALEX WOMER
