• Box Score

EDINBORO, Pa. (Feb. 5) – Despite 20 points from sophomore guard Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport), the Vulcans suffered a 78-76 loss to Edinboro at the McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team falls to 11-8 overall this season with a 4-4 mark in league play. Meanwhile, Edinboro improves to 11-11 this year and 3-5 in the conference.

Harding paced three Vulcans in double-figures with 20 points behind four-of-six from beyond the arc. The 6-5 swingman also finished tied for second on the team with eight rebounds. Senior forward Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) recorded a double-double with 14 points, including two-of-four on three-pointers, and a game-high 10 rebounds. Junior forward Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) finished with 13 points after shooting a perfect seven-for-seven from the free-throw line. The 6-9 Akron transfer also pulled down eight rebounds (six offensive) in the loss.

After a scoreless first two-plus minutes, Cal U jumped out to a 14-3 lead with 14:32 remaining after three-pointers from Hatten and Harding on back-to-back possessions. Edinboro then mounted a 21-7 run to take its first lead of the game, 24-21, on a fastbreak trey by guard Danny Walsh with 9:21 left before the break. The Vulcans regained the lead, 33-32, with 1:36 remaining on a fastbreak dunk by Harding before the Fighting Scots scored four of the last fast five points in the half to take a 36-33 lead into halftime.

The Vulcans opened the second half on a 9-2 run over the first two-plus minutes with treys from Hatten, junior guard Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Harding on consecutive possessions to take a 42-38 lead and force the Fighting Scots into a timeout with 17:29 left in the game. Over the next five minutes, Edinboro countered with an 11-4 run to retake the lead, 49-46, at the 13:27-mark following a layup by junior Clint Nicholson.

After Edinboro took a 55-52 lead, Cal U scored five-straight points to take a 58-55 advantage with 10:10 remaining. The two teams continued to exchange baskets with the Fighting Scots taking a 64-62 lead before Tipton converted a traditional three-point play to give the Vulcans the lead, 65-64, with 3:57 left in the game. Leading by one entering the final minute of play, Edinboro converted seven-of-eight free-throws to seal the win.

Cal U out-rebounded Edinboro by a 46-36 margin and out-scored the Fighting Scots in the paint, 24-20. After shooting just 33.3 percent (13-of-39) in the first half, the Vulcans finished the game shooting 36.1 percent (26-of-72), including 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from beyond the arc.

Nicholson led Edinboro with 24 points and eight rebounds while Walsh added 19 points including five-of-six from long range.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 9 when it travels to face rival IUP. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.