• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Jan. 30) – Behind a game-high 26 points by senior guard Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial), the Vulcans rallied from down 15 points midway through the second half to earn a 79-74 win against Clarion on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 8-10 overall with a 7-7 record in league action. The win also moved Cal U into a tie with Mercyhurst for fifth place in the divisional standings. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 5-13 this season behind a 3-11 mark in conference play.

Lowe posted the second-highest point total of his career, finishing with 26 points on 9-of-19 from the floor and six-of-eight from the free-throw line. He also registered a season-high nine rebounds, while collecting three assists and two steals in the win. Lowe has scored at least 20 points eight times this season, but entered play with only a combined 19 points in his last two games.

Sophomore guard Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) added 16 points off the bench, including 14 points in the second half after converting eight-of-eight from the free-throw line. Senior Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) scored 15 points for the second-straight game and added six rebounds and five assists against the Golden Eagles. Freshman guard Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) also finished with a career-high five assists on Wednesday night.

Trailing midway through the first half, the Golden Eagles mounted a 10-3 rally to take a 33-27 lead with 6:37 remaining. Cal U countered with a three-pointer before Clarion responded with a 12-6 run to close the half and take a 45-36 lead into the break. The two teams combined for 10 lead changes and just six turnovers in the first half.

Clarion increased its lead to 15 points, 60-45, midway through the second half after scoring five-straight points. The Vulcans countered with a 20-2 run over five-plus minutes to take their first lead, 65-62, since midway through the first half. Both teams were issued technical fouls during the rally and Cal U responded with eight-straight points following the double technical. The Golden Eagles twice trimmed the deficit to one point before a contested lay-up by Lowe and a three-pointer by Fortune stretched the lead to 72-66 with 1:12 remaining. Fortune then made six free-throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 41.2 percent (28-of-68) from the floor, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from beyond the arc. Cal U also posted one of its best performances of the season from the free-throw line, making 84.2 percent (16-of-19). Meanwhile, Clarion made 47.6 percent (30-of-63) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the charity stripe. The Vulcans out-rebounded the Golden Eagles by a 43-32 margin and scored 24 second-chance points.

Senior guard Calvin Edward led Clarion with 19 points and five assists on Wednesday, while classmate Mike Kromka finished with 18 points. Sophomore Marques Jones scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Feb. 2, when they travel to face Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa., at 3 p.m.