• Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (Feb. 18) – Overcoming an early double-digit deficit and weathering a late-game run, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team took sole possession of fourth place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings with a 61-56 win at Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon in league play.

With the victory, the Vulcans move to 15-11 overall and 12-8 in conference play. The Vulcans currently hold a one-game lead over Clarion and Gannon for fourth place in the league standings with two games left in the regular season. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst drops to 16-8 overall and 14-6 in conference play.

Freshman forward Jeremy Posey (Huntingdon, Pa /Huntingdon) led the team with a career-high 14 points on six-of-seven shooting from the field with a pair of three-pointers. He also posted six rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes off the bench.

Junior Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) added 12 points (10 first half) and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench. Freshman guard Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) finished with nine points after making all three of his shot attempts on Saturday.

Mercyhurst jumped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game before Cal U answered with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 19-16 with 6:11 remaining. A three-pointer by Posey at the 1:33-mark brought the Vulcans within two points, 24-22, before they closed out the first half on a 6-0 run to take a 28-27 lead at halftime.

Junior Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) slashed to the hoop to give the Vulcans a 34-33 lead with 17:53 remaining in the second half. Five-straight points by Fortune gave Cal U an eight-point lead at 43-35 with just over 14 minutes to go. A jumper by guard CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) at the 9:58-mark gave the Vulcans a 49-40 lead. Weedon connected on a jumper to give Cal U a 56-49 lead with just over four minutes remaining. A Posey lay-up at the 1:16-mark put the Vulcans up nine points, 58-49. Mercyhurst mounted a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to three points, 59-56, with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game.

The Vulcans shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the field, including 60.0 percent (three-of-five) from beyond the arc. Cal U totaled 16 assists while forcing 15 turnovers. The Lakers held a slim 34-33 rebounding advantage after registering nine blocks.

Junior Luis Leao led Mercyhurst with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting and added four rebounds. Senior Bill Weaver finished with nine points on four-of-five shooting with a team-high seven rebounds and three steals in the loss.

Cal U returns home to action on Wednesday, Feb. 22, when it hosts Clarion on Senior Day at 7:30 p.m. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.