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CALIFORNIA (Feb. 3) – After building a 15-point halftime lead, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team snapped its six-game losing streak on Wednesday night by posting a 79-65 victory over Slippery Rock in PSAC West action at Hamer Hall.

The Vulcans improve to 13-9 overall this season and 1-6 in divisional play. Cal U has now won seven of the last nine meetings against The Rock. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock falls to 13-7 overall and 2-5 in league action this year.

Junior forward Andrew Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Cheltenham) scored 15 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 23 on 10-of-14 shooting. He also led all players with eight rebounds. Over the last six games, the Philadelphia native is averaging 19.7 points and 7.2 rebounds while 64.3 percent (54-of-84) from the field.

Senior guard Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Admiral King) finished in double figures for the sixth-straight game, posing 14 points and four assists against Slippery Rock. Sophomore forward Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) added 12 points and seven assists despite battling foul trouble in the second half.

Sophomore starters Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) and Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) also combined for 16 points and nine rebounds in the victory.

Leading by one point midway through the first half, Cal U mounted an 18-3 rally over a nine-minute span to take a 29-13 lead with 5:08 before halftime. During the run, the Vulcan defense allowed The Rock to make only 1-of-11 shots and forced four turnovers. Slippery Rock cut the deficit to 10 points before Cal U scored the final five points of the half time a 37-22 lead at the break.

In the early minutes of the second half, The Rock made it an 11-point game before the Vulcans sealed the win with a 17-8 run over a span of 6:23 to take a 66-46 lead. Cal U would lead by as many a 22 points in the final minutes of the game before Slippery Rock scored the final eight points of the game.

After making almost 58 percent of its shots in the second half, Cal U finished the game shooting 49.2 percent (29-of-52) from the field. The Vulcans also made 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the charity stripe in the second half. Meanwhile, The Rock shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) from the floor and made eight three-pointers.

Junior forward Maron Brown and Jabril Bailey each finished with a team-high 14 points and combined for 13 rebounds in the loss. Guard Cecil Brown added 10 points and six rebounds on Wednesday.

The Vulcans out-rebound The Rock by a 41-36 margin and scored 16 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds. In the win, Cal U tied its season low by committing only eight turnovers.

Cal U opens the second of PSAC West play on Saturday, Feb. 6, when it hosts Gannon at 3 p.m. in Hamer Hall. The game will be a meeting of the last two PSAC and NCAA Regional Champions.