• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Jan. 14) – Senior Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) led three players scoring in double-figures, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team earned a 65-59 victory over Gannon on Saturday evening in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at the Convocation Center.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 9-7 overall with a 6-4 record in league action. Cal U has won each of the last four meetings against Gannon. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights drop to 8-6 this season and are also 6-4 in conference play.

Tipton finished with 15 points after tying his career high with five three-pointers for the fifth time this season. He also posted seven rebounds while playing 24 minutes off the bench, his first non-start this year. Tipton is averaging a career-high 11.8 points per game this season after shooting 38.3 percent (41-of-107) from beyond the arc.

Redshirt junior guard Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) added 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting with four assists and two steals in the win. Junior forward Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) posted 10 points, six rebounds (four offensive) and three assists in his first start since Dec. 18.

After Gannon held a 22-21 lead at halftime, Cal U scored the first two baskets of the second half to take a 25-22 lead. Leading 37-33 midway through the second half, the Vulcans mounted a 9-3 run to take their largest lead of the game at 46-36 on a three-pointer from Tipton at the 10:41-mark. Gannon responded with a 10-2 run to trim the deficit to 48-46 before tying the game with 4:10 remaining.

With the game tied at 52-52, Cal U reclaimed the lead on a pair of free-throws by junior guard Papa Kote (Dakar, Senegal/Yalla Suur En) with 3:22 remaining. The Vulcans made it a two-possession game, 59-55, when Vann converted a traditional three-point play with 1:46 left in the game. Following a layup by the Golden Knights, Tipton expanded the lead to 62-57 with a three-pointer at the 1:11-mark. Gannon countered with a layup with 38 seconds remaining before Vann made three free-throws down the stretch to seal the win.

After shooting nearly 54 percent in the second half, Cal U finished the game shooting at a 40.7 clip (22-of-54) from the field and 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from beyond the arc. The Vulcans also made 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the free-throw line. In comparison, the Golden Knights shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the floor and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the charity stripe.

The Vulcans out-rebounded the Golden Knights by a 35-31 margin and scored 16 second-chance points. Cal U also finished with 19 points off turnovers in the win.

Gannon guard Brandon Belt and forward Darrell Blanton both scored 15 points in the loss, while junior Oscar Macias added 13 points.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 18, when it hosts Slippery Rock at 7:30 p.m. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.