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CALIFORNIA (Nov. 12) – Trailing with less than two minutes remaining, the Vulcans scored the last five points of the game on Saturday night to claim a 77-73 win against Virginia Union at Hamer Hall in the second day of the WJS Psychological Association Conference Challenge.

The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team has opened the year with a 2-0 record for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign. Meanwhile, the Panthers fall to 1-1 this season after posting an 82-81 win last night over Clarion.

Senior Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) established a career high with 23 points on Saturday night. The 6-9 forward made 9-of-11 attempts from the field and five-of-six from the free-throw line, including two free-throws with 11.2 seconds remaining to seal the win. Swiech also collected eight rebounds (six offensive) and two assists against Virginia Union.

Senior Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) finished with 14 points – all in the first half – behind four three-pointers, while redshirt junior Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) posted 12 points and six rebounds (five offensive) off the bench.

Virginia Union led by as many as nine points, 33-24, in the first half before Cal U mounted a 13-5 rally, capped by back-to-back baskets by junior guard Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport), to trim the deficit to 38-37 with 1:02 left before the break. Harding finished the game with six points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. The Panthers eventually took a 40-39 lead into halftime after scoring 15 points off turnovers in the first half.

The game remained close throughout the second half with the two teams combining for nine ties and 13 lead changes. Vann gave the Vulcans a 65-63 lead with 5:24 remaining in the game before the teams traded baskets and the Panthers tied the game at 68-68 with a pair of free-throws at the 3:51-mark. On a missed three-pointer by the Vulcans, Vann slashed through the paint and dunked on an offensive rebound to give Cal U a 69-67 lead with 3:27 left in the game.

The teams continued to trade points with Virginia Union taking a 73-72 lead on free-throws at the 1:51-mark. On the ensuing possession, Vann found senior guard Douglas Jr. Appiah (Toronto, Ontario/Ascension of Our Lord) for a three-pointer that gave the Vulcans the last lead change of the game. Appiah posted eight points, five assists and two steals in 26 minutes off the bench. Cal U forced a turnover on the next Virginia Union and continued to grab offense rebounds before Swiech sealed the win with two free-throws in the closing seconds.

Cal U shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from beyond the arc. The Vulcans out-rebounded the Panthers by a 32-27 margin and registered 19 assists on 27 field-goals.

Sophomore Damion Harris led five Virginia Union players in double-figure scoring with 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting and also posted a team-high seven rebounds. Junior Calvin Brown finished with 14 points, five assists and four steals in the losing effort.

Cal U returns to action next weekend with two-games in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play, starting at Shippensburg on Nov. 19 at 3 p.m.