ERIE, Pa. (Feb. 17) — Despite four players scoring in double-digits, including a season-high 18 points from senior Nate Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry), the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team suffered a 77-68 loss at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Wednesday night. 

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 7-19 on the year behind a 4-16 league mark. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights move to 7-17 overall with a 6-16 record in conference play.

Bellhy led the team with 18 points on six-of-nine shooting from the field and four-of-six from the charity stripe. He also posted one rebound, one assist and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench. The 6-foot-6 senior has now scored in double-digits in three of his last four games after only doing so once in his previous 11 games.

Senior Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East scored 13 points and registered a game-high nine rebounds (four offensive) and a season-high five assists, plus three blocks and three steals. Sophomore Nick Miller (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) recorded 10 points and four rebounds in 23 minutes, while classmate Luka Andjusic (Belgrade, Serbia/Borislav Petrov Braca) also posted 10 points

The game started with both teams trading scores before Gannon scored seven-consecutive points to take a 15-7 lead with 13:12 remaining in the half. The Vulcans responded with a 9-2 run that spanned almost three minutes, capped by a three-pointer by Miller, to cut the deficit to 23-16 at the 10:17-mark. The Golden Knights fought back with a 10-3 run over four minutes to increase their lead to 27-19 with 6:16 before halftime. Cal U shot four-of-four over the next four minutes to register a 12-4 run, including eight points from Bellhy, to tie the game before both sides traded scores to enter halftime at 35-35.

The Vulcans scored five of the opening nine points to take their first lead of the game at 40-39 with 16:10 remaining in the second period. Gannon recorded five-consecutive points and seven-straight points in part of a 20-9 run in just over five minutes to retake the lead 59-49 at the 10:52-mark. Cal U posted six of the next eight points before the Golden Knights rallied for a 14-3 run over almost six minutes to increase the lead to 75-58 with 3:22 remaining in regulation. The Vulcans ended the game on a 10-2 run and eight-unanswered points, including a last-second trey from senior Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison), as Gannon held on for the 77-68 win.

Cal U shot 37.1 percent (22-of-62) from the floor, including just 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. In comparison, the Golden Knights made 50.0 percent (28-of-56) from the field after shooting 57.6 percent in the second half. The Vulcans out-rebounded the Golden Knights by a 38-35 margin, but also finished with 16 turnovers.

Junior Kevin Kuteyi posted a game-high 27 points, including 20 points in the second half, with two rebounds and four steals. Classmate Matthew Dogan recorded 18 points with seven rebounds (five defensive), while senior Jean Yves Toupane tallied 13 points, eight rebounds (all defensive), five assists, one block and one steal on Wednesday night.

Cal U returns to action in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Feb. 20, against Mercyhurst at 3 p.m.