ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team out-rebounded California (Pa.) 37-17 and shot 55.3 percent from the field en route to a 59-47 victory Wednesday night in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opener at the Hammermill Center. In the process, the Golden Knights moved to 9-1 all-time against the Vulcans at the 'Mill.

The contest was billed as a battle between two of the PSAC's best defensive units and it turned out as advertised. California (Pa.) entered the contest as the PSAC's fourth-best defensive unit while Gannon ranks sixth. The two teams harassed the other into 46 combined turnovers and 42 combined points off turnovers.

Gannon raced out of the gates, scoring the first five points on a James Bryant (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Patrick's) three-pointer and Travis Brannen (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy) lay-up in the first minute and nine seconds.

California responded with six straight points, before Gannon answered right back with a 14-4 run. George Johnson (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) started the blitz with a three-pointer. Brannen produced three more baskets with his last producing a 19-10 Gannon lead with 12:44 left in the first half. The Vulcans rallied at the end of the first stanza, using a 7-0 run in the final 4:49 to cut the halftime deficit to 27-25. The Golden Knights held a two-point lead at the break despite 18 first-half turnovers.

The visitors seemed to take control early in the second half, scoring the first seven points and grabbing a 32-27 lead. In all, the Vulcans scored 14 straight points and held the Golden Knights scoreless for eight minutes and 55 seconds that spanned the first and second halves.

However, the scoreless drought didn't seem to faze the Golden Knights. Gannon exploded for an 18-2 run and created a 47-36 advantage. Johnson ignited the run and tied the game with a jumper and three-pointer. Anthony Simmons (Rochester, N.Y./Allendale Columbia) then went to work. The true freshman came off the bench after Brannen got in fouled trouble and scored eight straight points. Larry Swann's (Columbus, Ohio/Brookhaven) three-pointer capped the blitz, catapulting Gannon into an 11-point advantage with 10:11 remaining.

The Gannon lead reached 17 points at 58-41 and never dipped into single digits the rest of the way.

Johnson led all scorers with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Simmons, who entered the game with one point, tallied 14 points and six rebounds off the bench. He was 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Swann added 12 points.

Gannon shot 55.3 percent (21-38) from the field, 47.1 percent (8-17) from three-point range and 69.2 percent (9-13) from the free throw line.

Kelsey Williams headlined the California (Pa.) attack with 17 points, hitting 8-of-10 field goals. Travon Vann was the only other Vulcan in double digits with 14 markers.

California (Pa.) shot 38 percent (19-50) from the floor, 16.7 percent (2-12) from behind the arc and 43.8 percent (7-16) from the charity stripe.

Gannon improved to 6-7 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC Western Division. California (Pa.) dropped to 12-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Golden Knights return to action Saturday, January 16 at Clarion. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

For a complete box score from Wednesday's Gannon-California (Pa.) men's basketball game, please click here.