• Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (March 2) – Despite a game-high 25 points from senior guard Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial), the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team suffered an 85-71 loss at Slippery Rock on Saturday night in the first round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the loss, the Vulcans finish the year with a 12-15 overall record, marking the program's first losing season since the 1985-86 campaign. Meanwhile, The Rock improves to 20-7 this season and advances to face Gannon in the quarterfinals of the league tournament on Tuesday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m.

Lowe registered his 10th 20-point game of the season, finishing with 25 points after shooting 7-of-13 from the floor, including five three-pointers, and six-of-eight from the free-throw line. He finished the season ranked 10th in the PSAC in scoring at 15.8 points per game, which is the highest average by a Cal U player since the 2005-06 campaign.

Freshman guard Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) established a career high with 14 points on five-of-nine from the floor with a career-best four three-pointers. Sophomore Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) added 12 points off the bench, while senior Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) finished with seven points, four rebounds and four assists.

The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the first half with Slippery Rock holding a 29-27 lead with 5:43 remaining before the break. The Rock then mounted a 14-0 run and held the Vulcans scoreless for four-plus minutes before they closed the first half on a 7-2 rally. The teams combined for 12 three-pointers in the first half with Slippery Rock taking a 45-34 lead at the break.

In the second half, the teams traded baskets in the opening three minutes before The Rock posted a 14-2 rally over five-plus minutes to stretch the lead to 63-44 with 11:12 remaining. Cal U countered with an 18-8 run behind nine points by Lowe to trim the deficit to 73-64 with 4:00 left to play. Slippery Rock then sealed the win with a 7-2 rally to take an 81-67 with 40 seconds remaining.

Cal U finished the game shooting 44.4 percent (22-fo-56) from the field and tied a season a season high with 11 three-pointers, making 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from beyond the arc. In comparison, Slippery Rock made 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the floor and 50.0 percent (9-of-18) from long range. The Rock out-rebounded the Vulcans by a staggering 50-21 margin and scored 20 second-chance points.

Rock juniors Tabari Perry and Sa'Quan Davis both scored a team-high 20 points, while senior Gerald Brooks registered a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds.