• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Jan. 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team suffered a tough 65-62 loss to rival Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday at Hamer Hall in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With their second-straight loss, the Vulcans fall to 3-2 in divisional action and 10-7 overall after winning six-straight games earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks have won 13 of their last 14 games to improve to 15-3 overall and 4-1 mark in league play.

Junior guard Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain/Admiral King) and junior forward Tanyen Pearson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) each came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points. Nixon also posted five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Pearson scored his 13 points in a season-high 13 minutes.

Freshman forward Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) added nine points and six rebounds, while freshman guard Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) finished with eight points and three rebounds.

After leading 29-27 at halftime, the Vulcans out-scored the Crimson Hawks by a 10-2 margin in the first four-plus minutes of the second half to build a 39-29 lead. IUP then mounted a 20-6 rally over eight minutes to take a 49-45 lead with 8:24 left in the game. In a continuing close contest, Vann gave Cal U a 57-55 lead with 4:30 remaining when he made a lay-up. The basket by Vann was the final field goal made by the Vulcans, who were forced into a late-game fouling situation against the Crimson Hawks. IUP made all four free-throws in the final seconds of the game. Trailing by three points with six seconds remaining, senior guard Kenny Johnson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls/Ferrum (Va.)/C.C.B.C.) was able to draw a foul on a potential game-tying three-pointer. Johnson made two-of-three free-throws before IUP sealed the victory with less than one second remaining.

Both teams shot a similar percentage from the floor in the game, as Cal U made 45.1 percent (23-of-51) of its shots. In comparison, IUP shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the floor. The Crimson Hawks made five three-pointers and also converted 18-of-21 attempts (85.7 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Vulcans made only 13-of-23 free-throw attempts (56.5 percent).

IUP held a slim 32-31 advantage on the glass, while Cal U collected eight steals on 14 Crimson Hawk turnovers.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Jan. 31, when they travel to face Mercyhurst College for a 3 p.m. contest in Erie, Pa.