ABOUT THE MARAUDERS
• Millersville is aiming for its fifth-straight win Saturday--a feat not accomplished by the Marauders since winning seven in a row in November and December of 2012. Millersville has also won four consecutive PSAC games and is looking for its first five-game streak in PSAC play sine February of 2008.
• Millersville and Gannon have played six times since the Golden Knights joined the PSAC in 2008-09. The Golden Knights hold a 4-2 edge in the series in that time, winning last season's match-up after Millersville had won two in a row. Millersville and Gannon have a history before that, however, having met 16 times since 1985. Gannon holds an 11-5 edge. Four of the meetings came in the NCAA Tournament between 1986-95. The last match-up in Pucillo Gymnasium came in 2015 with Millersville winning, 66-61. All-time, however, Gannon has won four of six games played in Pucillo Gymnasium.
• Millersville's defense has been outstanding inside Pucillo Gymnasium, holding its nine opponents to just 64.9 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting. The Marauders have also forced 20.0 turnovers per game while totaling 11.4 steals per game at home. The Marauders have allowed 76.6 points per game in true road games.
• Millersville has climbed to sixth in the PSAC in scoring defense (70.4), and seventh in field goal percentage defense (.422). Millersville finished last season 15th in scoring defense (81.4) and 18th in field goal percentage defense (.494).
• Millersville is among the best in the PSAC at getting hands on the ball, blocking 3.5 shots per game (ranking fifth) and averaging 10.1 steals per game (ranking second). Millersville ranks 15th in Division II in turnovers forced per game (18.29), ninth in turnover margin (5.5), and 10th in steals.
Caden Najdawi ranks fourth in the league in blocked shots (1.4 per game) and has blocked at least one shot in eight consecutive games.
Marcus Adkison (2.1),
Jamal Washington (2.0),
Jaden Faulkner (1.9) and
James Sullivan (1.7) rank sixth, seventh, eight, and 16th in the league in steals per game respectively. No other team in the league has even three players ranked in the top 20.
• Najdawi has recorded three double-doubles in his last four games and has scored 24 and 23 points in his last two. He has three games of 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds this season. In his last outing, he recorded a career-high 16 rebounds. Since Dec. 1, Najdawi has averaged 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. The Marauders are 8-4 in that stretch. Millersville is also 5-1 when Najdawi records a double-double.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Series vs. Gannon: 5-11
Series Streak: Gannon, 1
First Meeting: 1985 (L, 66-78)
Last Meeting: 2018 (L, 60-86)
Last 10 Meetings: 3-7
Casey Stitzel vs. Gannon: 0-1
John T. Reilly vs. Millersville: 4-2
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
• Expect a low-scoring game Saturday. Gannon ranks second in the PSAC in scoring defense, allowing just 63.9 points per game. However, Gannon ranks 17th out of 17 teams in scoring offense at 61.5 points per game. Its most recent game (against Mercyhurst) was a 51-35 loss. Gannon has scored more than 70 points in a game just twice all season. Gannon ranks last in the league in field goal percentage and 16th/17 in 3-point percentage. Still, Wednesday's loss snapped Gannon's four-game winning streak. Gannon makes up for its low shooting percentage by beating teams on the glass. Gannon ranks second in the league in offensive rebounds (16.2 per game) and is second in the league in rebounding margin (+7.9).
THE LAST MEETING (Jan. 20, 2018 - Gannon 86, Millersville 60)
• Gannon entered the the game owners of a seven-game winning streak and the PSAC's top scoring defense. The Golden Knights extended that streak to eight and solidified their standing as the league's stingiest defense by beating Millersville, 86-60. Gannon improved to 8-1 at the Hammermill Center while holding Millersville to its second-lowest point total of the season and 38.5 percent shooting. Gannon shot 55.9 percent from the field and out-rebounded Millersville 42-20.
