• Box Score

EDINBORO, Pa. (Jan. 23) – Despite senior guard Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Admiral King/Lakeland C.C.) scoring 15 of his season-high 24 points in the second half, the Vulcans dropped a 79-72 loss to Edinboro on Saturday at McComb Fieldhouse in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team falls to 12-7 this year and 0-4 in league action. The Vulcans have lost their four PSAC West games by a combined 27 points. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots won for only the second time in their last eight games to improve to 8-9 overall and 2-2 in divisional play.

Nixon, who was starting for the first time in eight games, tied his career high of 24 points on 10-of-15 attempts, including three-of-five from beyond the arc. In the second half, the Ohio native made six-of-seven shots with a pair of three-pointers. Nixon ranks third on the team in scoring this year at 10.4 points and is tied for the team lead with 2.9 assists per game.

Junior forward Andrew Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Cheltenham/Harcum (Pa.)) finished with 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting, while sophomore guard Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) posted 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks. Senior forward Chris Moore (Ellicott City, Md./Howard/Morgan State) added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds and four blocks off the bench.

Despite shooting over 46 percent in the first half, the Vulcans entered the break trailing 40-27 after the Fighting Scots scored 13 points off first-half turnovers by Cal U. In the opening minutes of the second half, Cal U mounted a 14-5 rally to trim the deficit to 45-41 with 15:01 remaining. During the run, the Vulcans made seven of their 10 shot attempts and committed only one turnover. Edinboro responded by expanding their advantage back to nine points before freshman guard LaRon Byrd (Philadelphia, Pa./Girard Academic Music Program) scored baskets on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to 55-50 with 10:40 left in the game.

Moore later made it a one-possession game, 71-69, with a tip-at the 1:42-mark. However, the Fighting Scots sealed the win with an 8-0 run to expand their lead to 79-69 with 16 seconds remaining.

In the loss, Cal U out-shot Edinboro after making 52.5 percent (31-of-59) from the floor. However, the Fighting Scots held a significant advantage in trips to the free-throw line, shooting 17-of-33 (51.5 percent) compared to Vulcans' 7-of-13 performance (53.8 percent) from the charity stripe.

Junior guard Byron Knight scored a career-high with 31 points after making 12-of-16 attempts from the floor, including four three-pointers. Classmate Al Muteba added 17 points for the Fighting Scots, including 14 in the second half.

The Vulcans also out-rebounded the Fighting Scots by a 38-33 margin and set a season-high with 11 blocks. However, Edinboro scored 17 points after forcing Cal U into 15 turnovers.

Cal U continues PSAC West play on Wednesday, Jan. 27, when it travels to face rival IUP at 7:30 p.m. Last year, the Crimson Hawks swept the season series against the Vulcans after posting a 60-58 win at Memorial Fieldhouse.