CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- Malcolm Walters scored 19 points as four Mercyhurst scorers reached double-figures during the Laker men's basketball team's 73-71 overtime loss to California (Pa.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play on Wednesday.

Walters also had four steals while Lorenzo Collier and Edvaldo Ferreira put in 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Mercyhurst (12-11, 9-10). Derrick Ellis Jr. compiled 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Leading rebounder Patrick Smith hauled down 10 rebounds.

For Cal, Isaiah Lewis led the way with 18 points while Terry Davis Jr., Jahmere Howze and Robel Teckle contributed 16, 12 and 11 points, respectively. Davis and Howze had eight rebounds each.

The Lakers held a 60-56 lead with 28 seconds left, but were unable to hold off the Vulcans' late rally. Howze hit a pair of free throws, bringing Cal within 60-58, and then MU hit struggles at the free-throw line, making only 1 of 5 tosses from the charity stripe during the final 20 seconds.

That set the stage for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Davis to force overtime.

In the extra period, the host Vulcans (10-15, 6-13) went on a 8-1 lead, going up 69-62 with 1:07 to play. The Lakers battled back from there -- Ellis scored four straight points and then Smith hit a layup and free throw -- to pull within 71-69.'

Lewis made 1 of 2 free throws for Cal and then Ellis answered, going 2 of 2, to pull Mercyhurst to a 72-71 deficit. Once again, a Cal shooter made 1 of 2 freebies -- this time, it was Davis with three seconds left -- to push the hosts' lead up to 73-71. Davis missed the back-end, which the Lakers rebounded. A timeout was called by MU, but a turnover finished off the contest.

Mercyhurst will return to action on Saturday when it hosts cross-town rival Gannon for a 3 p.m. contest in the latest edition of the Porrece Pride of Erie series.