SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock vs. Gannon, Round 3.

SRU's men's basketball team earned a return trip to Erie to face the Golden Knights for the second time in six days by defeating California (Pa.), 85-71, in a first round PSAC Tournament game Saturday night at Morrow Field House.

The third-seeded Rock (20-7) will now play Gannon (22-6) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the quarterfinals at Hammermill Field House. SRU dropped a 75-63 decision at Gannon last Wednesday. The Rock defeated Gannon, 69-56, Jan. 30 at Morrow Field House.

“We talk to the guys about sprinting to the fight,” Rock coach Kevin Reynolds said. “That (Wednesday)night, we jogged or walked to the fight. Gannon sprinted ... and the fight was over in the first half.”

California (12-15) put up a fight against The Rock Saturday despite being dominated on the boards. SRU had a 50-21 edge in rebounding, 27-7 in the first half.

The Vulcans' last lead was at 10-9 less than five minutes into the game, but Cal trailed only 49-42 with 17 minutes to play.

“We've been dominated in the paint all year,” California coach Bill Brown said. “We went from having a 6-foot-9, 270-pound post player last season to a 6-5 guy who isn't very athletic this season.

“Our main priority this offseason is to get big. We need to do that. But give them (SRU) credit. They did what they do.”

The Rock went on a 14-2 run to open up a 19-point lead at 65-456 with 9:32 to play. The visitors never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

Junior guard Sa'Quan Davis came off the bench to score 20 points and collect five assists for The Rock.Tabari Perry added 20 points and six rebounds. Both sank three treys.

“Sa'Quan has been putting together a string of good games for us,” Reynolds said. “We'll need another one out of him Tuesday.”

Gerald Brooks came off the bench to score 11 points and grab 10 rebounds. Devin Taylor had nine points and 10 boards.

Keith Lowe paced Cal with 25 points, including five treys. Jake Jacubec scored 14 points and drained four treys, The Vulcans sank 11 of 20 3-point shots.

“They were hot from out there for a while,” Reynolds said. “The 3-pointer is the great equalizer. It can make up for a lot of things.”

But not enough on this night.

“We knew we were gonna have to shoot lights out to win this game ... well over 50 percent overall and from beyond the stripe,” Brown said. “That didn't happen.”

California lost to SRU for the fifth straight time over two seasons. The Rock reached 20 wins in a year for the third time under Reynolds and for the sixth time in school history.

“Personnel-wise, they are the best team in this league,” Brown said.

The Rock leads all of NCAA Division II with a plus 13.2 rebounding margin per game. Saturday's win marked the program's 94th in Reynolds' five years as coach. SRU was 93-248 in its previous 13 seasons before Reynolds' arrival.

“It's the players. It's not me,” Reynolds said. “But posting a third 20-win season in five years is a significant accomplishment for this program.”

A Rock win over Gannon, coupled with an Indiana (Pa.) loss at home to Edinboro Tuesday, would bring the PSAC final four to Morrow Field House this weekend.

“That's a lot of wishful thinking,” Reynolds said. “We just need to take care of our own business right now.

“We're trying to get into the national playoffs and stay alive in this tournament ... Tuesday's game has all sorts of implications for us.”

CALIFORNIA (PA.) 71

Quentin Harding 2-6 0-0 5, Mitchell Weedon 3-8 1-2 7, Jake Jacubec 5-9 0-0 14, Keith Lowe 7-13 6-8 25, Chris Williams 2-2 0-0 4, Josh Dombrosky 0-1 0-0 0, Tynell Fortune 2-4 8-8 12, Art Cook 1-6 0-0 3, Jeremy Posey 0-2 0-0 0, Anthony Lytle 0-5 1-2 1. Totals: 22-56 16-20 71.

SLIPPERY ROCK 85

Devin Taylor 4-8 0-1 9, Tabari Perry 4-6 9-10 20, Luiz Santos 3-7 1-2 7, Darious Clark 2-8 2-2 7, Aubin Reeves 2-4 0-0 4, John Bayardelle 3-8 0-0 7, Sa'Quan Davis 7-10 3-4 20, Gerald Brooks 3-9 5-6 11. Totals: 28-60 20-25 85.

California 34 37 —71

Slippery Rock45 40 —85

3-point goals: Harding, Jacubec 4, Lowe 5, Cook; Taylor, Perry 3, Clark, Bayardelle, Davis 3

Tuesday: PSAC Quarterfinal-Slippery Rock at Gannon, 7:30 p.m.