Gannon University Reaches First Title Game Since 1987

The Gannon Golden Knights are heading to their first national championship game since 1987, and they're bringing a record-breaking season with them.

Gannon crushed Oklahoma Baptist 98-80 on Friday night at a nearly packed UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, where most fans wore the Golden Knights' maroon and gold. The win sends the third-seeded team to the NCAA Division II title game on April 5th in Indianapolis, where they'll face Lander University.

Twin brothers Lucas and Mackenzie Morgan, both from Sydney, Australia, led the charge. Lucas dropped 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Mackenzie hit five three-pointers on his way to 20 points. The duo has been playing together since childhood, and their chemistry showed when it mattered most.

"When Mackenzie and I are on, we feed off each other," Lucas said after the game. "It means everything to be in the National Championship game."

The Golden Knights struggled early, trading leads with Oklahoma Baptist throughout the first half before taking a slim 45-39 advantage into halftime. But the second half belonged entirely to Gannon, outscoring their opponents 53-41 while never trailing once.

Four players hit double figures as Gannon controlled the boards with a 55-41 rebounding advantage. Pace Prosser and Precious Idiaru each added 17 points despite early foul trouble that could have derailed their night.

Why This Inspires

This isn't just about basketball. The Golden Knights set a program record with 33 wins this season, breaking the mark of 32 they set just two years ago. They've built something special in Erie, Pennsylvania, where a young coach named Easton Bazzoli has transformed the program into a national contender.

When asked what he'd tell his younger self about this moment, Bazzoli joked about "stumbling" into success. But there's nothing accidental about what his team accomplished. "There is nothing that they cannot overcome," he said, his voice full of pride.

The crowd brought a home-game atmosphere to Pittsburgh, reminding everyone that college sports at this level are about community, resilience, and the pure joy of competition. Eight different players scored for Gannon, showing the depth and trust that carries championship teams through March.

Now they face one more game for a title that's eluded this program for nearly four decades.