ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team fell, 61-56, to California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Vulcans used 28 bench points to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game.
 
Mercyhurst led early, but Cal came back, eventually taking a 28-27 halftime lead. The visitors quickly got ahead in the second half, as Hurst struggled to get its offense in gear. Andrew Rickard split two free throws with 1:03 left, making it 58-50 Cal. After Douglas Appiah made a free throw, Jonathan Ouegnin came back with two makes from the charity stripe. The Laker forced a turnover and then Terrence Ingram converted two free throw tries.
 
After another Vulcan turnover, Ingram scored on a putback to make it 59-56 with six seconds left. Travon Vann missed his first free throw, but finally hit the second, sealing the win for California.
 
Mercyhurst dropped 16-8 overall and 14-6 in the PSAC. It still needs at least one win in its final two regular season games to clinch a PSAC Tournament berth. Cal improved to 15-11 overall and 12-8 in the league. It is competing with Clarion and Gannon for the final spot in the conference tournament.
 
Bill Weaver got things going with a jumper 1:40 into the game. Matt Lee then hit a jumper to go up 4-0. After an Appiah bucket, Jamal Turner started his senior day with a jump shot. Steven Coleman followed with a three and Weaver made another jumper, putting Hurst up 11-2 five minutes in.
 
Mitchell Weedon  scored, but Coleman drilled another trey, keeping the Vulcans at bay. Rickard's triple with 11:06 to play made it 17-6, but Cal kept at it. It made a quick 10-2 run to get back in the game before Paul Bilbo made a layup to stop the spurt.
 
The teams were even the rest of the half, until Chad Tipton made two free throws and Vann connected on a jumper, making it 27-26 Hurst in the final minutes. Tynell Fortune was fouled with under a second to play and converted both free throw attempts.
 
Turner began the second frame with a three-pointer, but C.J. Townes answered with a basket to even the score at 30. A Weaver free throw regained the hosts' lead, but Steve Swiech made both of his free throw tries on the other end. Luis Leao and Weaver hit jumpers to go up 35-34 with 17:08 to go. It would be the Lakers' last lead of the day.
 
Vann's dunk and Townes' two free throws put the Vulcans ahead three and then Fortune hit a jump shot and trey to stretch the margin. Cal kept a slim advantage midway through the half. Jeremy Posey hit a jumper and then Weaver made a lay-in to get the Lakers within 51-47 with just over six minutes remaining. Layups by Weedon and Posey expanded the lead back to nine before Hurst made its final push.
 
Leao led Mercyhurst with 15 points and four blocked shots before being ejected with his second technical foul with 1:03 left in the game. Weaver was next with nine and Coleman added eight points. Weaver, also a senior, posted seven boards, three steals, and three blocks. Posey led Cal with 14 points, while Weedon totaled 12.
 
The Lakers play Edinboro on Wednesday, February 22, at the MAC. The matchup is set for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
 
For a box score of the California-Mercyhurst game, please click here.