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ERIE, Pa. (Feb. 4) – Senior Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) made the game-winning three-pointer with 7.0 seconds left on Saturday night to give the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team a 68-67 victory over Gannon at the Hammermill Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 12-10 this season and remain tied for fifth in the divisional standings with a 9-7 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights fall to 10-10 overall and slip to seventh in the standings with an 8-8 conference record. Cal U has now won the last five meetings against Gannon, including back-to-back games at the Hammermill Center.

Senior forward Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) and junior guard Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) both scored a team-high 12 points on Saturday. Swiech made six-of-nine from the field and led the team with five rebounds while posting two blocks. Lowe shot five-of-nine from the floor and collected three rebounds and three assists against the Golden Knights.

Tipton finished with eight points off the bench after making a pair of three-pointers, which gives him a career-high 52 treys this season. Freshman Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) also added seven points off the bench (all in the first half), while senior Douglas Jr. Appiah (Toronto, Ontario/Ascension of Our Lord) collected a team-high four assists in 12 minutes – his highest total since Dec. 4.

The Vulcans took a 36-32 lead into the break after the two teams combined for 10 lead changes in the first half. After Cal U scored the first basket of the second half, Gannon mounted a 10-4 run to the tie game at 42-42 on a three-pointer with 15:48 remaining. A basket by Lowe on the next possession gave the Vulcans the lead and extended it to five points, 51-46, on a fastbreak lay-up by senior forward John Williams (Baltimore, Md./Mervo) at the 10:15-mark.

After the Golden Knights cut the deficit to two points, the Vulcans countered with a 10-0 run behind back-to-back baskets by junior forward Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) to take a 63-53 lead with 5:13 left to play. Gannon answered with a 13-0 rally to take its first lead of the second half at 66-63 with 1:21 remaining. The Vulcans snapped the four-minute scoreless drought with a lay-up by Swiech that cut the deficit to 66-65 at the 1:02-mark.

Following a turnover by both teams, Gannon made the front end of a one-and-one to take a 67-65 lead with 20.2 seconds left. On the ensuing possession after the missed free-throw, Tipton converted the go-ahead three-pointer with 7.0 seconds remaining to give the Vulcans a 68-67 lead. The Golden Knights managed an errant three-point shot from just across halfcourt as time expired.

Cal U posted its second-best shooting performance of the year, making 57.4 percent (27-of-47) from the field and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) from beyond the arc. In comparison, Gannon shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the floor and just 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from long range. In the loss, the Golden Knights out-rebounded the Vulcans by a 31-24 margin and scored 17 second-chance points.

Junior forward Darrell Blanton led Gannon with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. Classmate Oscar Macias was the only other Golden Knights player in double-figures, finishing with 13 points.

The Vulcans return to the Convocation Center for a two-game homestand, beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 8 against No. 13 IUP. Fans are encouraged to wear white for a “White Out” event, which will coincide with a free t-shirt giveaway. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.