ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 22) – Behind a 16-4 run in the second half, the Vulcans forced overtime and posted a 63-58 victory over division-leading Gannon at the Hammermill Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Thursday night.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 12-6 overall with an 8-5 mark in conference action. The Vulcans earned their first overtime victory since the 2011-12 season and have now played at least one overtime game in each of the last five years. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights fall to 11-7 this season behind a 10-3 record in league play.

Junior guard Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) led the team with 15 points after scoring a combined 13 points in the second half and overtime. He made 11-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line and also collected three assists and two rebounds in the victory. Jabbie ranks eighth in the PSAC with a .818 free-throw percentage (90-of-110) and has made at least 10 free-throws in three games this season.

Senior Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) finished with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds, two assists and two steals while coming off the bench. Junior Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) posted 12 points after missing the last two games, while classmate Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) totaled 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals while making only his second appearance off the bench this season.

The Golden Knights opened overtime on a 5-1 run in the initial minute to take a 56-52 lead. Cal U then scored seven-straight points, including a go-ahead jumper by junior Calvin Brown (Trevose, Pa./Bensalem) at the 1:56-mark, to take a 59-56 lead with 29 seconds left. Gannon snapped a span of nearly four minutes without a field goal by making a jumper with 21 seconds remaining. Jabbie then made both free-throws just two seconds later to stretch the lead to 61-58 before Jacubec sealed the win by making a pair of free-throws with nine seconds left.

Gannon took a 33-23 lead at halftime after out-rebounding Cal U by a 20-11 margin in the first half. The teams traded baskets for the opening two-plus minutes before the Vulcans mounted a game-changing 16-4 run during a run of over 11 minutes. Cal U started the rally by scoring six-straight points before later posting eight-unanswered points to take a 43-41 lead on a dunk by Smith at the 6:32-mark. During the lengthy run, the Golden Knights made just 2-of-10 from the field and committed five turnovers. Gannon reclaimed the lead at 47-45 with 4:53 left in regulation before Cal U countered by scoring six of the next eight points to take a 51-49 lead after Jabbie made two free-throws at the 1:40-mark. The Golden Knights tied the game at 51-51 on the ensuing possession with a jumper and 1:15 remaining.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the floor despite making just 2-of-12 from three-point territory. Cal U also converted 81.0 percent (17-of-21) from the free-throw line. In comparison, the Golden Knights shot at 34.5 clip (19-of-55) from the field and 76.2 percent (16-of-21) from the charity stripe. Gannon finished with a slim 35-32 rebounding advantage and Cal U totaled 44 points from the bench in the victory.

Senior Girbran Smith led all players with 22 points and added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Junior Jean Yves Toupane finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, while senior Adam Blazek posted seven points, six rebounds and three assists.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 24, when it hosts Slippery Rock at 5 p.m.