ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 10, 2015) – Redshirt freshman Jaymon Mason scored 21 points but the rest of the youthful Edinboro squad struggled in a 66-48 loss at Gannon on Saturday night. The loss dropped the Fighting Scots to 7-8 overall and 4-7 in the PSAC West, while the Golden Knights remained on top of the league standings at 10-1 while improving to 11-5 overall.
 
Gannon used a pair of spurts, one in each half, to subdue a game but outmanned Fighting Scots club. Edinboro would jump to a 13-8 lead eight minutes into the game as Tommy Scales scored six points and Mason five.
 

The Golden Knights proceeded to go on a 23-4 run that included 13 straight points at one stretch as the Fighting Scots went scoreless for over four-and-a-half minutes.  Gannon would take its largest lead of the half at 31-17 as Edinboro trailed 37-25 at the half.
 
Edinboro shot just 26.7 percent over the opening twenty minutes (8 of 30), and was outrebounded 28-17, but committed just one turnover.
 
The Fightings Scots would close the gap on a pair of occasions in the second half. Mason's four-point play, followed by another short jumper, pulled the Scots to within three points at 40-37 with 16:03 to play.
 
Gannon responded with eight straight points to rebuild the lead to 48-37 but Edinboro closed to 48-40 on Sheldon Brogdon's three-pointer with just under 12 minutes to play.
 
The defict was still eight at 50-42 midway through the half, but that would be the last time the deficit would go under double digits. Edinboro would make just three of its final 14 shots as Gannon went on the run that would close out the contest.
 
The Golden Knights ran off nine straight points to go up 59-42 with just under six minutes remaining. The deficit would reach 18 points on three occasions, including the final margin/
 
Edinboro struggled against a Gannon defense that came into the game ranked first in the PSAC in scoring defense (56.9 ppg.), along with ranking third in the conference in field goal percentage defense (40.0 pct.). In addition, a powerful Golden Knight squad ranks second in the PSAC in rebounding margin at +10.9.
 
Edinboro would actually shoot better in the second half at 34.5 percent (10 of 29), but the Scots still ended the day at just 30.5 percent (18 of 59). Gannon dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Scots 50-29.  That led to a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint, plus an 18-8 advantage in second chance points. A deep Gannon bench also held a 27-13 advantage in bench scoring.
 
Mason enjoyed an outstanding effort in his first collegiate contest at the Hammermill Center. The freshman made 6-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-5 3-pointers, and was 7-of-8 from the line. The point guard also helped Edinboro commit just three turnovers.
 
Scales added 10 points, making 5-of-7 field goals, although the junior forward was held scoreless in the second half.
 
Unfortunately, the rest of the Fighting Scots made just 7-of-30 shots. The most frustrated of the Scots was Henri Wade-Chatman, who entered the game as the PSAC's leading scorer at 20.6 ppg. The junior guard made his first shot of the game then proceeded to miss his next 12 shots. He would end the night with a season-low four points while making 2-of-17 shots.
 
Gannon ended the game shooting 41.1 percent (23 of 56) and was 14-of-18 from the line. Girbran Smith led the Knights with 16 points while adding eight rebounds. Rich Austin came off the bench to contribute 10 points and nine rebounds. Raphell Thomas-Edwards had a game-high 12 rebounds along with nine points.         
 
The going doesn't get any easier for the Fighting Scots as they play at Indiana(Pa.) on Wednesday, January 14.