• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Feb. 23) – Senior Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) converted the game-winning, three-point play with 5.5 seconds remaining on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team posted a 53-52 victory over Mercyhurst on Senior Day in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 11-14 overall with a 10-11 mark in league action. Cal U has secured the sixth seed in the PSAC Tournament and will travel to the third seed from the PSAC West, which is still to be determined, on Saturday, March 3. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 16-11 this season and are tied fourth in the standings with a 12-9 record in conference play.

Senior Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) nearly posted his third double-double of the season, finishing with team highs of 13 points and nine rebounds. He made five-of-eight attempts from the floor and collected two assists while making his first start since Feb. 2.

Classmate Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals in the win. Freshman Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) added 11 points and four rebounds, while sophomore Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) scored nine points off the bench. Lowe tallied five points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals on Saturday.

Mercyhurst trimmed the halftime deficit to two points, 30-28, before Cal U countered with seven-unanswered points to take a 37-28 lead with 13:15 remaining. The Lakers then snapped a five-minute stretch without a field goal before the Vulcans later mounted a 12-5 run to stretch the lead to 49-39 with 5:19 left to play. During the rally, Fortune scored all nine of his points on three-pointers.

Mercyhurst countered with a 13-1 run over four-plus minutes to claim a 52-50 lead with 1:05 remaining. The Vulcans missed a pair of jumpers on their next possession before a turnover gave the Lakers possession with 16 seconds left. Mercyhurst then missed a one-and-one and Harding collected the rebound. In the closing seconds, Lowe drove the lane and tied the game with a layup before converting a free-throw to take the 53-52 lead. The Lakers missed a potential game-winning shot from near the free-throw line as time expired.

Cal U finished the game shooting 48.8 percent (20-of-41) from the floor, including 62.5 percent (five-of-eight) from beyond the arc. In comparison, Mercyhurst shot 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the field and 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from long range. The Vulcans held a 35-22 rebounding advantage and scored 24 from inside the paint.

Senior forward Luis Leo led the Lakers with 16 points, while sophomore Terrence Ingram finished with 12 points, three rebounds and four steals in the loss.

The Vulcans conclude the regular season on Wednesday, Feb.27, when they travel to Clarion at 7:30 p.m.