• Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 31) – After trailing by seven points midway through the second half, the Vulcans cut the deficit to one point with 16 seconds left before losing 66-64 to Mercyhurst College on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team has lost its last three games by a total of nine points to fall 10-8 overall and 3-3 in league play. In its first season with the PSAC, Mercyhurst stands at 15-4 overall and 3-3 in divisional action.

Senior forward Julian Logan (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix/Owens C.C. (Ohio)) led the Vulcans in the loss with 24 points and nine rebounds (five offensive). The two-year starter shot 8-of-13 from the floor and made 8-of-10 free-throw attempts, while also collecting three assists.

Junior guard Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Admiral King/Lakeland C.C. (Ohio)) added 14 points and five rebounds, while sophomore guard Joe Berenato (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic) finished with nine points after hitting three three-pointers.

In a tight second half that featured eight lead changes and six ties, the Lakers made six-of-eight free-throws in the final 26 seconds to earn the victory.

With 7:34 remaining in the game, Mercyhurst led 53-46 before Cal U mounted an 8-1 rally to tie the game at 54-54 following a pair of free-throws by Logan with 3:55 remaining. Logan eventually gave the Vulcans a 59-57 lead after converting a pair of free-throws with 1:22 left before Mercyhurst countered with a three-pointer by junior guard Nnamdi Nnadili. The Lakers expanded its lead to three points, 62-59, before the Vulcans made it a 62-61 contest on a lay-up by Nixon. However, Mercyhurst preserved the victory at the free-throw line down the stretch.

Cal U finished the game with a .407 field-goal percentage (22-of-54) after making 6-of-13 attempts (46.2 percent) from beyond the arc. The Vulcans also shot 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the free-throw line, including 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) in the second half. In comparison, Mercyhurst made 42.6 percent (23-of-54) of its attempts from the floor and 63.2 percent (12-of-19) of its free-throws.

The Vulcans out-rebounded the Lakers by a 36-32 margin and registered five blocks, including three by junior forward Chris Moore (Ellicott City, Md./Howard/Morgan State (Md.)).

The Lakers featured three players in double figures with both Nnadili and junior forward Elliot Engelmann scoring a team-high 15 points.

Cal U continues its three-game road trip on Wednesday, Feb. 4, when it travels to face Slippery Rock University for an 8 p.m. contest.