• Box Score
 
CALIFORNIA (Feb. 5) – The Vulcans' second-half rally fell short as Mercyhurst dealt the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team a 63-56 loss in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
 
Cal U falls to 4-6 in conference play and 9-11 overall this season and fall to seventh in the PSAC West standings due to wins by both Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown. The top six teams from each division receive berths into the PSAC Tournament. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 11-8 overall and 7-2 in the PSAC West.
 
Senior Chris Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) and junior Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) each scored 11 points to lead the Vulcans, while sophomore Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) and junior Alonzo Murphy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) each chipped in nine points in the loss.
 
Cal U held Mercyhurst to 18 percent shooting (3-of-16) through the opening eight minutes and built up a 13-7 lead with 12:15 left in the first half. The Lakers found their stroke and went on an 18-7 run over the next eight minutes to take a 23-20 lead with 4:13 remaining till halftime. Marks sandwiched a pair of baskets between a Laker lay-up in the final two minutes of the period to trim the deficit to 25-24 heading into the break.
 
Mercyhurst opened the second half on a 14-4 run and held the Vulcans to one basket on five attempts to take a 39-28 lead with 13:29. Cal U out-scored the Lakers 9-5 over the next five minutes, capped by a Marks three-pointer, to trim the deficit to 44-37 with 8:43 left in regulation.
 
After a Mercyhurst basket extended the lead back to nine, the Vulcans went on a 12-3 run to even the game at 49-49 with 4:23 remaining in the contest. The Vulcans forced four turnovers and made four of their six attempts from the field during the run. The Lakers responded with a 9-4 run to reclaim the lead at 58-53 with 1:46 left in the game and out-scored Cal U in the final minute to earn the victory.
 
Both teams shot under 45 percent for the game and neither team was efficient from long range. Cal U shot 35 percent (5-of-14) from three-point range compared to the 27 percent (6-of-22) posted by Mercyhurst. The Lakers committed only one turnover in the first half and finished the game with six compared to the 13 turnovers by the Vulcans.
 
Mercyhurst was led by Jean Onana, who finished the game as the only Laker in double-figures, with 14 points, including 4-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
The Vulcans will look to improve their standing in the PSAC West on Saturday, Feb. 8, when they head to Edinboro for a tip at 8 p.m.