General | 4/3/2026 5:00:00 PM
No. 3 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (33-3, 19-1 PSAC West) vs. No. 5 LANDER BEARCATS (30-5, 17-3 PBC)
NCAA Division II National Championship Game
DATE/TIME: Sunday, April 5, 2026 | 1:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: Gainbridge Fieldhouse l Indianapolis, Ind.
NCAA Division II Elite Eight – Pittsburgh, Pa.
Wednesday, March 15 — Quarterfinals
Game 1 – No. 3 GANNON 75, No. 6 Michigan Tech 49
Game 2 –No. 7 Oklahoma Baptist 78, No. 2 Cal State East Bay 55
Game 3 – No. 1 Nova Southeastern 76, No. 8 Black Hills State 66
Game 4 – No. 5 Lander 77, No. 4 Daemen 74
Friday, March 27 – Semifinals
Game 5 – GANNON 98, Oklahoma Baptist 80
Game 6 – Lander 91, Nova Southeastern 81
Sunday, April 5 – Championship in Indianapolis, Ind.
Game 7 – GANNON (33-3) vs. Lander (30-5) – 1:00 p.m.
GANNON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
With Wednesday’s win over Michigan Tech Gannon reached the nationwide semifinals for the primary time since 1987 and second time at school historical past. The Golden Knights are making their twenty eighth look within the NCAA Tournament and have now received seven regional championships to advance to the Elite Eight. The sixth got here two years in the past when Nigel Haughton’s putback because the buzzer sounded gave Gannon a 67-65 win over Charleston (WV). The Golden Knights went on to lose to Cal State San Bernardino 99-65 within the quarterfinals. A 12 months in the past Gannon defeated East Stroudsburg (99-74) and Virginia State (92-66) to attain the Sweet 16. West Liberty ended Gannon’s hopes for a second straight journey to the Elite Eight with a 101-90 victory on its homecourt. Gannon received its first regional crown in 1975 successful the East Regional. They additionally received the East Regional in 1987, 1988 and 1990. In 2009 Gannon received the Atlantic Regional.
THE GANNON-LANDER SERIES
First Meeting
ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon males’s basketball staff will make its second look within the NCAA Division II Championship Game on Sunday, April 5 dealing with Lander. The contest ideas off at 1:00 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. and shall be televised dwell on CBS.
Gannon entered the Elite Eight because the quantity three seed after successful the Atlantic Regional. The Golden Knights superior to the championship recreation thanks to a 75-49 win over No. 6 Michigan Tech within the quarterfinals and a 98-80 victory over No. 7 Oklahoma Baptist within the semifinals.
Lander is seeded fifth and received the Southeast Regional. The Bearcats defeated No. 4 Daemen 77-74 earlier than posting the upset of the event, a 91-81 conquer top-seeded and defending nationwide champion Nova Southeastern.
Second-year head coach Easton Bazzoli led Gannon to its second journey to the NCAA Div. II Elite Eight in three years after defeating Indiana (Pa.) within the Atlantic Regional championship recreation. He was not too long ago named the NABC Co-Coach of the Year and the PSAC West Coach of the Year.
Gannon’s quarterfinal win was the primary since Tom Chapman guided the Golden Knights to a win over New Hampshire (93-81) within the 1987 quarterfinals. That was adopted by a 61-55 victory over Eastern Montana within the semifinals. Gannon’s run to the nationwide championship ended with a 92-74 loss to Kentucky Wesleyan within the title recreation.
The win over Oklahoma Baptist set the varsity document for wins because the Golden Knights are available in with a 33-3 document. The 2023-24 staff, with Bazzoli serving as an assistant coach, completed at 32-3. A 12 months in the past Gannon reached the Sweet 16 and completed the 12 months at 27-7 in Bazzoli’s first season as head coach.
Lander is making its first look within the nationwide championship recreation. The Peach Belt Conference champions, the Bearcats personal a 30-5 document underneath fifth-year head coach Omar Wattad.
Gannon is thought for its high-scoring offensive assault which is definitely a bi-product of a 94-feet-of-hell urgent protection. The Golden Knights rank third in Division II in scoring offense (95.4 ppg.) whereas main the nation in turnovers pressured per recreation (22.6) and rating second in turnover margin (+9.1).
The Path to the Final Four
No. 3 Gannon 75, No. 6 Michigan Tech 49
A dominant defensive effort led Gannon to the Final Four. The Golden Knights scored the primary 9 factors and jumped out to a double-digit lead simply over 5 minutes into the competition. Michigan Tech by no means acquired nearer than ten factors the remainder of the best way. Gannon held a 38-21 halftime lead. The Huskies had one critical rally within the second half, scoring 9 straight factors to pull to inside 10 factors at 47-37 with 11:37 remaining. The Golden Knights scored six straight factors, 4 by Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore), to quell the comeback effort. Gannon restricted MTU to simply 28.6 % capturing from the ground (16-of-56) and compelled 16 turnovers. The Golden Knights additionally battled a bodily Michigan Tech staff to a 43-43 draw on the glass. Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) led Gannon with 19 factors, going an ideal 12-for-12 on the line. Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) added 17 factors and Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) had 12. A switching protection restricted All-American Marcus Tomashek, who got here in averaging over 23 ppg., to simply 5 factors.
No. 3 Gannon 98, No. 7 Oklahoma Baptist 80
A back-and-forth first half featured three ties and ten lead modifications however Gannon grabbed management late within the half. After forging a 45-39 halftime lead the Golden Knights outscored Oklahoma Baptist 53-41 over the ultimate 20 minutes. Gannon shot 50.0 % from the ground over the ultimate 20 minutes whereas limiting the Bison to 34.3 pct. The Aussie twins tandem of Lucas and Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) mixed for 48 factors, with Lucas scoring a career-high 28 factors and Mackenzie 20. Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) made 9-of-13 subject objectives and 8-of-11 free throws, including 9 rebounds. Twin brother Mackenzie made 5-of-9 3-pointers. Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) and Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) added 17 factors.
The Knight Watch:
Record: 33-3, 19-1 PSAC West
Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli (NABC Div. II Atlantic Region Co-Coach of the Year; PSAC West Coach of the Year; 59-10, 2nd 12 months)
Top Players: Pace Prosser (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) (G, 6-2, So., 18.3 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 76-of-239 3’s, 163 asts., 78 stls.); Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) (G/F, 6-4, Jr., 13.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 53.9 FG%, 55 stls.); Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) (10.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 163 asts., 63 stls.); Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) (F, 6-10, R-Jr., 11.5 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 45-of-139 3’s); Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) (G, 6-4, Jr., 10.0 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 64-of-180 3’s, 73 stls.); Layne Sarver (New Madison, Ohio/Tri-Village) (G, 6-6, Sr., 8.9 ppg., 61-of-185 3’s); Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) (G/F, 6-7, Sr., 7.4 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 30 blks.)
- Gannon is making its second look in three years within the Elite Eight and second look all-time within the NCAA Div. II nationwide championship recreation. The 1986-87 version underneath head coach Tom Chapman reached the title recreation in Springfield, Mass. Before dropping a 92-74 choice to Kentucky Wesleyan.
- The Golden Knights set the varsity document for wins final Friday with the 98-80 win over Oklahoma Baptist within the semifinals. They improved to 33-3 document, bettering the 32-3 mark set by the 2023-24 version. They had been the PSAC Western Division common season champions, ending at 19-1 in league play. Gannon was sixth within the remaining NABC Div. II Top 25.
- Gannon completed because the runner-up on the PSAC Tournament, dropping an 80-79 heart-breaking choice to California (Pa.) within the title recreation. The Vulcans had been fouled on a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left and transformed all three free throws to snap Gannon’s 15-game successful streak. The Golden Knights defeated East Stroudsburg 104-73 within the quarterfinals and beat Indiana (Pa.) for the third time this season within the semifinals 99-85.
- After defeating Charleston (WV) 83-58 within the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Regional, Gannon gained a little bit of revenge within the semifinals in opposition to California (Pa.). The Golden Knights pulled away for an 89-73 win over the Vulcans behind Pace Prosser’s (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) season-high 30 factors. That left a fourth assembly with Indiana (Pa.). Gannon erased a six-point halftime deficit to win 81-74 as Prosser dropped in 24 factors. The sophomore guard was named the regional MVP and Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
- Head coach Easton Bazzoli was not too long ago named the NABC Div. II Atlantic Region Co-Coach of the Year and was chosen the PSAC West Coach of the Year. Bazzoli has a 60-10 document in his second season. He grew to become the quickest coach to attain 50 profession wins. Bazzoli led Gannon to a 27-7 document in his first season as head coach and was an assistant coach on the 2023-24 staff that completed at 32-3.
- Prosser topped the 1,000-point mark in Gannon’s semifinal win vs. IUP. He grew to become the primary Gannon participant to attain 1,000 profession factors since Adam Blazek in 2013-14 and the twenty seventh total. He is simply the fourth Golden Knight to do it in two seasons (Glen Summors, Darryl Freeman, Troy Nesmith). Prosser boosted his profession complete to 1,144 factors within the quarterfinal win and now has 659 factors this season. That is the third-highest season complete.
- Two different Golden Knights have reached 1,000 mixed profession factors whereas taking part in at two totally different faculties. Senior swingman Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) topped 1,000 factors not too long ago in opposition to Pitt-Johnstown. He performed two seasons at Des Moines Area Community College, totaling 600 factors, earlier than becoming a member of the Golden Knights a 12 months in the past. He has 1,050 total profession factors. Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) joined the private 1,000-point membership within the PSAC quarterfinal win over East Stroudsburg. Including two seasons at St. Cloud State, the place he piled up 635 factors, the junior guard/ahead now sits at 1,121 factors.
- Prosser was not too long ago named to the NABC Div. II All-American squad. The sophomore guard leads Gannon in scoring at 18.3 ppg., together with main the staff in 3-pointers made (76-of-243) and steals (78). He is tied for the staff lead in assists (163) and stands second in rebounding at 5.2 rpg.
- Prosser was certainly one of three gamers to earn All-PSAC West honors not too long ago. The sophomore guard earned a spot on the All-PSAC West first staff after incomes second staff honors as a freshman. Gannon had two gamers chosen to the second staff with redshirt junior ahead Precious Idiaru (Speyer, Germany/LA Premier Prep) and sophomore guard Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) on the second unit. Prosser has since been named to each the NABC All-Atlantic Region Team and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team.
Scouting Lander:
Record: 30-5, 17-3 PBC
Head Coach: Omar Wattad (103-54, fifth 12 months)
Top Players: Greyson Pritzel (G, 6-4, Jr., 13.9 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 99-of-235 3’s, 81 asts.); Jacob Daniels (G, 6-0, Fr., 13.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 28-of-97 3’s, 55.0 FG%, 195 asts., 57 sts.); Terry Leonard Jr. (G, 6-3, So., 11.7 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 38-of-112 3’s); Dylan Canoville (F, 6-6, Sr., 11.4 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 58.7 FG%, 47 blks.)
- Lander is making its first look within the NCAA Div. II National Championship and comes off the largest upset of the event. The Bearcats grabbed a 15-point lead over No. 1 seed Nova Southeastern earlier than falling behind. They closed on a 15-2 run to hand the Sharks a 91-81 defeat behind 5 double-figure scorers. Seeded fifth, Lander opened the Elite Eight with a 77-74 win over No. 4 Daemen within the quarterfinals.
- Head coach Omar Wattad is in his fifth season on the helm and was named the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year. He led the Bearcats to their first outright convention championship and third NCAA Tournament look in 4 years. Lander received the PBC Championship, then defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 84-62 within the Southeast Regional championship recreation
- Lander options 4 gamers averaging in double figures, led by Greyson Pritzl. The 6-foot-4 junior was a 3rd staff All-PBC choice who led Lander within the semifinal win with 25 factors, making 5 3-pointers. He averages a team-high 13.9 ppg. The former Saint Leo switch has made 99-of-235 3-pointers and is third on the staff in rebounding (4.6 rpg.).
- Jacob Daniels, a 6-foot-0 freshman, was named the PBC Freshman of the Year and is available in because the staff’s second-leading scorer at 13.7 ppg. He was additionally accorded first staff All-PBC honors. He leads the Bearcats with 195 assists and 57 steals, rating thirteenth in Div. II in assists per recreation (5.6). He can be capturing 55.0 % from the ground.
- Terry Leonard Jr. (11.7 ppg.) and Dylan Canoville (11.4 ppg.) are additionally scoring in double figures. Leonard is a 6-foot-3 sophomore who has made 38-of-112 3-pointers. Canoville is a 6-foot-6 senior who was a second staff All-PBC choice after transferring from Jackson State. He leads the staff in rebounding (5.7 rpg.) and blocked photographs (47) whereas capturing 58.7 % from the ground.
- Lander ranks second in Division II in subject aim share, capturing 50.8 % from the ground for the season. The Bearcats common 80.8 ppg. and permit 69.7 ppg., the latter determine within the prime 50 in Division II.
