CALIFORNIA (Jan. 21) – After shooting just over 70 percent from the floor in the second half, the Vulcans registered a 69-52 win over Mercyhurst at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday evening.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 6-13 overall with a 3-10 mark in league play. The Vulcans last posted a victory against the Lakers on Feb. 23, 2013. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 7-10 this season behind a 5-8 record in conference action.

Junior guard Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) scored a game-high 17 points after shooting 6-of-10 from the floor, including five-of-eight from three-point territory. He also collected five rebounds and four assists while playing 29 minutes off the bench on Saturday. Smith is averaging 14.8 points over the last six games after previously averaging 6.2 points per game this season.

Junior Robel Teckle (Washington D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) finished with 15 points on six-of-eight attempts, while classmate Daniel Sapp (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) posted 12 points, three rebounds and two steals in the victory. Junior Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) tallied nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in a career-high 31 minutes.

Cal U initially jumped out to a 10-6 lead at the 16:16-mark after making four-of-five shots from the field to open the contest. After a three-pointer from Sapp gave the Vulcans a 13-8 lead at the 14:59-mark, the Lakers were able to keep the deficit under five for the majority of the first half despite shooting 5-of-16 from the field in the opening 12 minutes. Mercyhurst was able to take the lead at 22-21 for the first time since being up 3-1 with 4:38 left in the half. Sapp gave the Vulcans the lead back at 26-23 with a three-pointer at the 2:12-mark in the first half before the Lakers hit a three-pointer of their own with six seconds left to tie the scored at 26-26 at the break.

The Vulcans converted their opening four shots in the second half and held a 37-36 lead at the 15:42-mark in the second half. After back-to-back baskets from Richardson and Sapp that gave Cal U a five-point lead, the Lakers responded with seven-straight points to take their first lead of the second half at 43-41 with 11:16 left in the game. A three-pointer from junior Luka Andjusic (Belgrade,Serbia/ Borislav Petrov Braca) at the 10:59-mark began a stretch of four-consecutive three-pointers from the Vulcans that put them up 53-46 with 8:13 left. Smith hit the trio of three-pointers after Andjusic's initial trey. Cal U would then close the game on a 16-6 run after shooting 8-of-10 from the field.   

The Vulcans shot a season-best 58.7 percent (27-of-46) from the floor after converting 50 percent (10-of-20) from three-point territory. Meanwhile, the Lakers shot at a 39.2 clip (24-of-55) for the game despite hitting 11 three-pointers. Mercyhurst held a slim 26-25 rebounding advantage.

Junior guard Lorenzo Collier led the Lakers with 11 points after shooting four-of-nine from the floor. Senior Durrell McDonald totaled 10 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 25, when it hosts Clarion at the Convocation Center at 7:30 p.m.