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ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team will play its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division road contest Saturday, January 14 when it travels to California (Pa.) for another anticipated tight match-up. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. The contest can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.

Gannon (8-5, 6-3 PSAC) concluded a season-high seven-game homestand Wednesday night with a tough 76-72 loss to rival Edinboro. The Golden Knights were unable to hold onto a 13-point second-half lead and have now lost four games this season when leading at halftime. All five of the club's losses this season have come by four points or less and by a combined total of 14 points.

Wednesday's setback represented the third loss in four PSAC Western Division openers since Gannon joined the conference prior to the 2008-09 campaign, including a 62-55 defeat at the hands of Cal during the 2008-09 NCAA Division II Elite Eight run. The Golden Knights rebounded to post convincing victories during their next game every time after those previous PSAC West opening losses.

Adam Blazek leads the PSAC and ranks fifth among all NCAA Division II players in steals per game (3.2). Darrell Blanton ranks third among PSAC players and 22nd nationally with five double-doubles. Only Clarion's Bud Teer and Slippery Rock's Devin Taylor have more in the conference with six.

Gannon is among the nation's top 10 in assists per game (sixth, 19.3), rebounding margin (ninth, 8.7) and scoring offense (10th, 85.9). The Golden Knights enter the weekend in a four-way tie for third place in the PSAC West with Slippery Rock, Edinboro and Mercyhurst. All four teams have 6-3 conference records and sit one game behind second-place Clarion. Indiana (Pa.), ranked 14th in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25 poll, resides in first place with an 8-1 conference mark.

California (Pa.) (8-7, 5-4) is coming off a 68-58 loss in their PSAC West opener Wednesday night at IUP. The Vulcans have dropped seven of their last 10 after winning the first five contests of the season. The squad has played very well during its inaugural season at the new 6,000-seat California U Convocation Center. It is 6-1 at home, but only 2-6 on the road.

Head coach Bill Brown's club has won with defense. The Vulcans rank fourth among PSAC teams in scoring defense (68.9), field goal percentage defense (42.6), rebounding defense (31.7) and rebounding margin (5.7).

Gannon has dropped three consecutive games against California (Pa.), but still holds a slim 10-8 edge in the all-time series. The last three games have been decided by three points or less. The Vulcans swept last year's season series with a 53-50 home win and a 72-70 victory at the 'Mill.