ERIE, Pa. – Chad Tipton's three-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation from the right wing with a defender draped all over him propelled the California (Pa.) men's basketball team to a critical 68-67 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division victory against Gannon Saturday night at the Hammermill Center.
The shot stunned a Gannon crowd of 1,229 that just roared its approval as Gannon rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes. California (Pa.) produced its biggest lead of the evening at 63-53 following Travon Vann's lay-up with 5:13 to play.
T.J. Wilson (Lorton, Va./Hayfield Secondary) answered 14 seconds later with a lay-up of his own, igniting a 13-0 run over the next three minutes and 48 seconds.
Adam Blazek (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) followed with seven consecutive points on two free throws, a three-pointer and a lay-up. Wilson then put the Golden Knights in front 64-63 at the 2:06 mark with a lay-up off a pass from Blazek who was laying on the ground after corralling a loose ball in the corner.
The Gannon defense forced a Cal turnover on its next possession, before
Darrell Blanton (Cleveland, Ohio/Euclid) increased the lead to 66-63 with a pair of free throws at the 1:21 mark.
The entire contest, which featured three ties and 12 lead changes, was then decided in the final minute. Steve Swiech stopped Gannon 13-0 run with an offensive put-back off his own miss with 1:02 remaining. The Vulcans missed four shots and turned the ball over three times during the drought's seven possessions.
The two teams exchanged turnovers, forcing Cal to foul with the shot clock off. Gannon converted only one of two free throws, leaving the lead at 67-65 with 20 ticks left on the clock. Keith Lowe found Tipton on the right wing, who turned and buried a three-pointer fading from tough defense with seven seconds left on the clock.
Gannon had one last chance to win the game as Blanton inbounded the ball to Blazek. The freshman was trapped in a double-team, before finding Blanton at mid-court. However, the junior forward only had time for a couple dribbles before his running three-pointer bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
California (Pa.) initially opened the game with a 7-0 run until Gannon produced its first basket 4:07 into the contest. The Golden Knights later used a brief 6-0 run to tie the contest at 22 with 6:54 left in the first half. The lead exchanged hands 11 times during the next five minutes and 18 seconds, before Cal scored the final five points of the half en route to a 36-32 lead at the break.
The visitors held a lead for the entire second half until Gannon's final run, but the Vulcans could never pulled away. Their lead hovered between two and six points until an 8-0 blitz gave them the 10-point lead with 5:13 to play.
Blanton recorded his ninth double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 8-of-16 shots.
Oscar Macias (Cicero, Ill./Morton) was the only other Golden Knight in double digits with 13 points off the bench.
Gannon shot 42.4 percent (25-59) from the field, 23.1 percent (3-13) from three-point range and 87.5 percent (14-16) from the free throw line. The Golden Knights out-rebounded the Vulcans 31-24, including an 18-7 edge on the offensive glass.
Swiech and Lowe led the Cal attack with 12 points each. Vann chipped in 10 markers. The Vulcans shot 57.4 percent (27-47) from the floor, 50 percent (5-10) from behind the arc and 75 percent (9-12) from the charity stripe. The squad shot 58.3 percent (14-24) in the first half and 56.5 percent (13-23) in the second half.
Gannon dropped to 10-10 overall and 8-8 in the PSAC Western Division with its third consecutive home loss. California (Pa.) improved to 12-10 overall and 9-7 in conference action after completing its second consecutive season sweep of the Golden Knights.
Head coach
John T. Reilly's club now sits two games out of the final PSAC Western Division playoff spot. Slippery Rock and Clarion are tied for the final two spots with 10-6 conference records. California (Pa.) and Edinboro are one game back at 9-7 while Gannon owns an 8-8 slate.
Gannon returns to action Wednesday, February 8 at rival Edinboro. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
