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Box Score
ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 20) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team fell to Gannon in both team's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West openers Wednesday night at the Hammermill Center.
The Vulcans drop to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while the Golden Knights open their season at 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC.
Senior
Chris Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) led Cal U with 14 points on four-of-eight shooting, including two-of-three from three-point range and four-of-five from the free-throw line. Junior
Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) paced Williams with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The Vulcans led for the majority of the first half until Gannon closed out the final four minutes on a 9-3 run to take a 28-22 lead into the break. Cal U connected on only 33 percent (8-of-24) from the field, including three-of-eight from three-point territory, and was out-rebounded 19-8 in the first half.
Gannon maintained the advantage in the first eight minutes of the second half, leading by as many as 10, 40-30, with 11:56 remaining in the game. Cal U went on a quick 8-0 run over the next two minutes to pull within two points, 40-38, and forced a Gannon timeout with 10:28 left in the contest.
Following the timeout, Gannon rebuilt its lead to seven, 45-38, with 7:23 remaining in the game until Williams drained a three-pointer to end a three-minute point draught and Marks sunk a free-throw to pull Cal U back within three at the 5:59-mark of the second half. The Golden Knights never allowed the Vulcans to get any closer and brought their lead back to nine points, 53-44, on a three-pointer with 2:39 left in the game. Gannon made six free-throws to send Cal U to the loss.
The Vulcans shot 30 percent from the field (15-of-49), compared to the Golden Knights who shot 48 percent (19-of-39). Gannon, who committed 21 turnovers, out-rebounded Cal U 37-22.
Junior Adam Blazek led Gannon and all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including four-of-six from three-point territory. Classmate A'Darius Porter cleaned the glass for the Golden Knights with a game-best 13 rebounds.
The Vulcans return to action Saturday, Nov. 23, when they host PSAC West rival Slippery Rock. The game is scheduled to tip at 5:30 p.m.
