• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Feb. 9) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team missed a potential game-tying three-pointer as time expired on Saturday evening, falling 56-53 to Gannon at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 9-12 this season with an 8-9 mark in league play. Gannon swept the season series this year and posted its first win at Cal U since the 1954-55 season (2-7). Meanwhile, the Golden Knights improve to 19-overall behind a 13-4 record in conference action.

Freshman Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) and junior Chris Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) both scored a team-high 11 points in the loss. Jacubec tied his career high with three three-poiners and Williams reached double-digits for the first time since Dec. 18. Williams also led the team with seven rebounds while making his fourth-straight start.

Sophomore Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) added 10 points off the bench, while senior Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) finished with nine points and four assists.

The two teams traded baskets until midway through the first half when the Vulcans went on a 6-3 run to take a 15-13 lead with 6:05 remaining. Gannon responded with six-straight points before Cal U closed the half with seven-unanswered points to take a 22-19 lead at the break. Both teams shot under 38 percent in the first half and combined for only three free-throw attempts.

Early in the second half, Gannon mounted a 9-3 run over two minutes to take a 34-31 lead with 14:03 remaining. The Vulcans countered with a 9-2 rally to take a 40-36 lead with 9:48 left to play before the Golden Knights followed with seven-unanswered points, 43-40. Cal U reclaimed the lead, 46-43, and Gannon then seized control of the game with an 11-0 run over four-plus minutes. The Vulcans snapped a five-plus minute stretch without a field goal, scoring two field goals in a span of 16 seconds to trim the deficit to 54-50 with 23 seconds remaining.  Gannon then made one of two free-throws before senior Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) made a three-pointer with 13 seconds left, 55-53. The Golden Knights again made one of two free-throws to stretch the lead to 56-53 with 10 seconds remaining before a three-pointer by Lowe rimmed out as time expired.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 40.8 percent from the field (20-of-49), including 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from long range. The Golden Knights posted similar marks, making 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the floor and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the arc. Gannon held a 35-27 rebounding advantage and scored 26 points from inside the paint.

Gannon senior Tanner Furno led the team with 12 points off the bench, while junior Robert Wilson added 11 points. Fellow junior CJ Oldham led the Golden Knights with eight rebounds in 22 minutes.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 13, when it travels to face rival and No. 7 IUP at 7:30 p.m.