Porreco Pride of Erie Games Return

Things are heating up right here in Erie, and it surely is not the weather (we wish). The Mercyhurst and Gannon men’s basketball rivalry continues with the spirited tradition of the Porreco Pride of Erie games. The first match-up of the year takes place on January 18th at 7:30PM in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Gannon and Mercyhurst will go head to head once again for the Porreco Pride of Erie Cup!

This year’s festivities for the games includes numerous giveaways such as t-shirts and gift cards. There will also be a halftime contest involving a free throw, a 3 point shot, and a half-court shot, where one lucky student could win a large grand prize. At the end of the game, the Porreco Pride of Erie Cup will be awarded to the winning team, and a Game Changer Award will be presented to the player with the most impact in the game.

Excited the most of all is Jason Porreco. “My father really valued the Porreco Cup for many years and we brought in a lot of big teams such as Georgetown and Navy, as well as players like Julius Erving,” said Porreco. “It was a great tradition that most importantly brought the community together. We thought about adding a new twist to the rivalry game within the city between two great schools.”

The rivalry has always spiked interest in the Erie community. “There have been a lot of crazy games in the series,” said Gannon head coach John Reilly. “These are two teams that compete at a high level and are proud teams. It’s always a challenge. That’s what makes this game so special. Every possession will be contested as hard as it can be.”

Tickets for the first match-up are on sale at the Athletic Center on the day of the game. The second match-up of the series is slated for Wednesday, February 25th at the Hammermill Center at Gannon University. It will coincide with Senior Day for the players and will tip off at 3PM.