ERIE, PA – Things fell apart in the second half for the Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team as Gannon University remained unbeaten with an 85-67 victory Thursday. The Cardinals committed 15 second-half turnovers as the Knights shot 60 percent from the floor to break open a close game.
     The hosts ran off eight straight points to snap a 44-44 tie and out-scored the Cards 21-6 during a seven-minute span to put the game out of reach.
     SVSU had an early 18-11 lead, but Gannon had a 15-3 run during the next six minutes and led 34-32 at halftime. Senior Greg Mallek (Merrill) led the Cardinals with 20 points and nine rebounds, while blocking four shots. Senior guard Rashard Carson (Toledo, OH/Rogers), who sat out two games with an ankle injury, returned with 15 points. Senior Josh Ode (Freeland), nursing tendinitis in his knee, scored just two points but shared team-high rebounding honors with nine.
     Sophomore Terrence Wright (Saginaw/Buena Vista) added 13 points. The Knights were led by Rich Bush with 25 points, while Zaid Al-Khas scored 20 points and cleared a game-high 16 rebounds.
     SVSU coughed up 24 turnovers to just 13 for Gannon, which made five more three pointers and had five more offensive rebounds.
     The Cardinals dropped their third straight game to fall to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the GLIAC North Division. Gannon leads the South with a 3-0 mark and is 6-0 overall.
     Saginaw Valley plays at Mercyhurst College on Saturday.

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