• Box Score
• Photo Gallery

CALIFORNIA (Feb. 19) – Behind 17 points from senior forward Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton), the Vulcans held off Gannon, 53-50, in the final regular season game at Hamer Hall in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Saturday evening.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves its conference mark to 6-6 and its overall record to 13-11. Meanwhile, Gannon drops to 13-11 overall and 4-8 in the league this year. The Vulcans complete the season sweep of the Golden Knights this year, having won both contests by a combined five points.

Hatten led Cal U with 17 points behind two treys and five-of-six from the free-throw line. The 6-7 senior also pulled down seven rebounds (three offensive), collected five steals and recorded two blocks. Junior forward Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) added 12 points off the bench on 6-of-10 from the field and classmates CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) and Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

An early dunk by Hatten gave Cal U the lead, 2-0, before Gannon used an 8-2 run to take an 8-4 lead just over six minutes in to the game. Two Townes' free-throws gave the Vulcans the lead back, 16-15, at the 7:19-mark before Cal U out-scored Gannon, 10-6, over the next six minutes to take a five-point lead, 26-21. Gannon freshman Kelvin Agee hit four free-throws with under a minute left in the first half to send the teams into the locker room with the Vulcans leading, 26-25.

Cal U used an 11-6 spurt to start the second half to stretch its lead to a game-high six points, 37-31, on a Townes' layup with 14:14 remaining in the game. Gannon used an 8-2 run to tie the game at 39-39 with 10:28 remaining on a layup by freshman Stephen Battle. After a hook-shot from Swiech tied the game at 47-47 at the 2:47-mark, a Tipton put-back gave Cal U the lead, 49-47, with 1:56 remaining. Behind four made free-throws in the final 1:17, the Vulcans secured the victory, 53-50.

Despite being out-rebounded by 10, 42-32, Cal U out-scored Gannon in the paint, 28-10, and in second-chance points, 9-7. The Vulcans forced the Golden Knights into 17 turnovers, while committing just seven turnovers. The seven turnovers represent the lowest total for Cal U since committing six turnovers in a win against Mercyhurst on Feb. 28, 2009.

Agee led the Golden Knights with 13 points behind seven-of-nine free-throws. Junior Anthony Clagett added nine points and senior Travis Brannen added seven points, seven rebounds and six assists in the loss.

The Vulcans will wrap-up the regular season with two road games with the first coming Wednesday, Feb. 23, against Clarion at 7:30 p.m.

Notes:
Prior to the game, the Vulcans honored Tom Graney ('77) with the Alumnus of the Year Award. Graney is currently the General Manager for Charleroi Federal Savings Bank and has been the president of the men's basketball 6th Man Club for the past four years.