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CALIFORNIA (Jan. 30) – Despite four players scoring in double figures, including a double-double by senior guard
Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Admiral King), the Vulcans were edged 61-60 by Mercyhurst at Hamer Hall on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team falls to 12-9 overall and 0-6 in league action. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst moves to 13-6 this season and 3-3 in divisional play.
Nixon registered his first career double-double after posting 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The 6-1 senior made just 4-of-12 shots from the floor, but made seven-of-eight attempts from the free-throw line. He also collected five steals and two blocks in the loss. Over the last five games, Nixon is averaging 18.0 points per game after averaging only 9.2 points in the first 16 games this season.
Junior forward
Andrew Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Cheltenham) scored a team-high 18 points on eight-of-nine shooting and added seven rebounds in the loss. Fellow forwards
Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) and Rashad Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) each finished with 10 points with Hatten collecting seven rebounds off the bench.
Trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, Cal U rallied to take the a 57-56 lead after Young converted two free-throws with 4:59 remaining. Mercyhurst countered with five-straight points to take a 61-57 lead with 1:47 left in the game. After a Nixon free-throw cut the deficit to three points, sophomore guard
Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) scored a lay-up to make it a one-point game, 61-60, with only 47 remaining. However, the Vulcans was unable to take the lead after missing their last shot attempt in the final 10 seconds.
The Vulcans shot a 40.4 clip (21-of-52) and made only one three-pointer, while the Lakers made 42.9 percent (21-of-49) of their shots and sank seven treys. Cal U held the advantage at the charity stripe, shooting 77.3 percent (17-of-22) compared to 57.1 percent (12-of-21) by Mercyhurst.
Senior forward Jordan Armstrong led the Lakers with 17 points and six rebounds, while classmate Nnamdi Nnadili added 12 points off the bench. Guard Jeremiah Wise finished with 11 points behind three treys.
Cal U out-rebounded its opponent for the third-straight game, holding a 39-29 advantage on Saturday. The Vulcans collected 14 offensive rebounds which led to 19 second-chance points. However, Cal U committed 18 turnovers – its highest total in three weeks – which Mercyhurst converted into 20 points.
Cal U finishes the opening round of PSAC West action on Wednesday, Feb. 3, when it hosts Slippery Rock at 8 p.m. in Hamer Hall. Last season, The Rock swept the series to snap a four-game losing streak against the Vulcans.