SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Feb. 25) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team were eliminated from Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament contention and closed out the regular season with a 57-50 loss at Slippery Rock on Wednesday night in divisional play.

With the loss, the Vulcans finish the year with a 14-14 overall record behind a 9-13 league mark. Cal U tied Pitt-Johnstown for sixth place in the divisional standings; however, the Mountain Cats hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their victory over Slippery Rock. Meanwhile, The Rock closes the regular season with a 19-9 overall record and a 14-8 mark in conference play.

Senior Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) led the team with 15 points after shooting 5-of-10 from the floor, including three of-four from beyond the arc. Junior Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) was the only other player to score in double-digits, finishing with 13 points (10 second half), three rebounds and five assists. Fellow junior Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) led the team with seven rebounds, while being held to a season-low one point.

Cal U scored the initial basket of the game before Slippery Rock went on a 13-5 run to take a 15-10 lead with 10:36 left in the first half. The Vulcans then scored the next five points to tie the score at 15-15 following a layup by freshman Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) at the 7:26-mark. Slippery Rock later closed the first half on a 9-4 run to take its largest lead of the first half at 26-20 lead at the break. The teams combined for nearly 50 first-half rebounds after both teams struggled from the field.

The Rock took the largest lead of the game at 29-20 after posting the opening basket of the second half. Cal U then posted an 18-7 run over a span of nearly 11 minutes to take a 38-36 lead on a jumper by Richardson with 8:54 remaining. The Rock eventually snapped a three-plus minute scoreless drought by posting nine-unanswered points to reclaim the lead at 45-38 with 4:41 left to play. The Vulcans later worked the deficit down to 49-45 after a pair of free-throws by Jabbie at the 1:04-mark. Cal U then trimmed the lead to 51-48 on a three-pointer by Marks with 39 seconds left before Slippery Rock sealed the win by making six free-throws in the closing seconds.

After shooting 50 percent in the second half, Cal U finished the game shooting 36.0 percent (18-of-50) from the floor. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock was held to a season-low .288 field-goal percentage (17-of-59). The Rock held a 48-35 rebounding advantage and scored 25 second-chance points. Both teams committed just eight turnovers in the contest.

Senior Frank Holloway scored a game-high 17 points and added seven rebounds (four offensive). Classmate Antonio Butler added 16 points and five rebounds, while junior Erik Raleigh led all players with 12 rebounds (five offensive) off the bench.