ERIE, Pa. – Behind a remarkable effort from senior forward
Ethan Porterfield, the IUP men's basketball team pushed top-seeded and third-ranked Gannon to the limit, giving the Golden Knights all they could handle in a 94-89 setback in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals in Erie.
IUP stayed within striking distance the entire night and late into the second half, ending its season with a 17-13 overall mark. The Crimson Hawks shot 51.6% from the field, placed four in double figures and sliced the deficit within two points down the stretch in an inspired showing.
Ethan Porterfield concludes his legendary career with 34 points (12-20 FG), 10 rebounds and two blocks in 40 minutes. A remarkable showing, Porterfield finishes his career with 1,934 points and slots second all-time in school history behind all-time great Darryl Webb.
In his 130th career game, Porterfield led the charge for the Crimson Hawks in their return to Erie. Losing by 26 points (84-58) at Gannon on January 13, IUP hung right with the Golden Knights in the second half.
Gannon (27-2) pushes its winning streak to 16 games with the victory on Wednesday. The Golden Knights will serve as hosts for the PSAC Semifinals and Finals this weekend as the top seed in the PSAC West.
The Golden Knights entered the conference tournament as the top team in the region and PSAC West regular season champions, becoming just the second team (Edinboro) since the 2007-08 season to beat a
Joe Lombardi coached IUP team three times in a season.
Gannon led by as many as 14 points in the first half, holding a 36-15 margin in bench points with a platoon system. Lyle Tipton led the way for the Golden Knights with 23 points, while Josh Omojafo added 16 points in 25 minutes.
Garvin Clarke racked up 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Hawks.
Jaylen Stewart added 15 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Josh Petteno posted 15 points (3-5 3FG) and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Golden Knights held a 40-34 edge in rebounding and a 17-15 margin in second chance points. Gannon led 44-37 at halftime before IUP held a 52-50 margin in scoring over the final 20 minutes.
A Clarke jumper knotted the score at 75 with 7:07 remaining before the Knights answered with one of their patented scoring runs, stretching the lead back to 85-78 on an Ernest Shelton trey.
Porterfield's fourth three-point basket of the night brought IUP back within two (91-89) with 13 seconds left. GU wrapped up the game at the foul line and secured the victory.
The loss snaps a 13-game winning streak in the conference tournament for the Crimson Hawks, the reigning four-time conference champions. Porterfield closes his career among the most decorated student-athletes at IUP in any sport, closing his career second in program history in scoring (1,934), first in field goals made (723), fifth in three-point field goals (236), third in rebounding (885), second in blocks (165) and tied for third in career games (130).
Gallery: (3-6-2024) MBB vs Gannon (3/6/24)
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