• Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 16) – Junior guard Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Admiral King) made the game-winning jumper with five seconds left in regulation on Tuesday to lift the Vulcans to a 63-61 victory over Chestnut Hill College at Sorgenti Arena.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 4-2 overall. Meanwhile, Chestnut Hill drops its second-straight game to fall to 1-9 this season.

Trailing 61-59 with 1:07 left to play, the Vulcans evened the score at 61-61 when junior forward Chris Moore (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) made a pair of free-throw attempts. Moore collected a steal on the Griffins' ensuing possession which set up the eventual game-winner by Nixon. Chestnut Hill managed to attempt an unsuccessful last-second three-pointer as time expired.

Nixon scored a season-high 17 points on 6-of-10 attempts, while playing 24 minutes off the bench. The Ohio native also made four-of-five attempts from the free-throw line and collected five rebounds (three offensive) with two steals against the Griffins.

Fellow newcomer Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky), a 6-7 freshman forward, also registered a season high with 16 points behind seven-of-nine shooting. Williams posted a team-best nine rebounds (four offensive) and collected three blocks.

Sophomore guard Joe Berenato (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) added eight points, while Moore and freshman guard Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) each finished with six points.

After leading 38-30 at halftime, Cal U and Chestnut Hill battled to 10 lead changes and five ties during the second half. In the opening six-plus minutes after intermission, the Griffins mounted a 12-3 rally to claim a 42-41 lead with 14:19 remaining. The game remained close through the rest of the second half with Chestnut Hill holding a four-point lead, 51-47, for the game's largest lead down the stretch.

The Vulcans took a 59-57 lead when senior guard Kenny Johnson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls) made a pair of free throws with 2:09 left. The Griffins answered with a lay-up and two free-throw attempts of their own to take a 61-59 edge with 1:07 remaining. Moore then tied the contest with a pair of free throws before Nixon won the game.

Senior David Goode and sophomore Trenton Davidheiser led the Griffins in scoring with 14 points each, while Goode collected a team-high seven rebounds (three offensive).

After shooting almost 52 percent in the first half, Cal U finished the game shooting at a .478 clip (22-of-46). In comparison, the Vulcans' defense held the Griffins to only a .375 shooting percentage (26-of-64). Cal U held a 39-35 advantage on the glass, however, Chestnut Hill scored 27 second-chance points on 19 offensive rebounds.

The Vulcans are now idle for over a week due to Christmas before returning to action in the Holiday Inn Express Classic, hosted by Ashland University (Ohio) at the end of the month. Cal U opens the two-day tournament against Aquinas College (Mich.), a NAIA program, on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.