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Box Score
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 10) – Trailing late in the game, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team out-scored Shippensburg 7-2 in the final two minutes on Sunday to claim a 67-64 win at Heiges Field House in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 12-3 this year and finish non-conference play only one win shy of tying their win total from last season. Meanwhile, Shippensburg drops to 7-6 overall this season and 1-3 in crossover play after having played the top four teams in the PSAC West standings.
Senior forward
Chris Moore (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) came off the bench to lead the team with 14 points on five-of-six shooting from the floor and four-of-four from the free-throw line. He also registered five rebounds (two offensive) and three blocks in 16 minutes off the bench.
Sophomore forward
Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) scored 11 points after making five-of-eight attempts from the field. Sophomore guard
Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) finished with nine points and six rebounds, while junior forward
Andrew Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Cheltenham) added eight points and five rebounds (all offensive). Junior guard
Travis Williams (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God Christian Academy) posted seven points, four assists and four steals against the Red Raiders.
With Cal U leading 60-56 following a basket by Young, Shippensburg cut the deficit to 60-59 following forward Will Royal converted a traditional three-point play. On their next offensive possession, the Red Raiders took a 62-60 lead following a three-pointer by junior Justin Minter with 1:55 remaining. The Vulcans responded with six-straight points to take a 66-62 lead after a pair of free-throws by Moore. Royal trimmed the deficit to 66-64 after making two free-throws before
Kelsey Williams made it a three-point game, 67-64, with a free-throw. Shippensburg missed a game-tying three-pointer with four second left and senior guard
Jerial Nixon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Admiral King) collected the rebound to seal the victory.
In the win, the Vulcans shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the floor despite making just 14.3 percent (2-of-14) from three-point territory. In comparison, the Red Raiders made 49.1 percent (27-of-55) of their shots and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the arc. Cal U held a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 72.2 percent (13-of-38) compared to Shippensburg shooting 55.6 percent (five-of-nine) from the charity stripe.
Royal recorded a double-double with team-high totals of 17 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Red Raiders. Forward Daziah Miller finished with 12 points, while guard Lamar Jackson added six points and six assists.
Cal U out-rebounded Shippensburg by a 37-30 margin and scored 17 second-chance points after collecting 17 offensive rebounds. The Vulcans forced 13 turnovers in the win and tallied 20 points off turnovers. Meanwhile, Cal U tied a season low by committing only nine turnovers in the win.
The Vulcans now open PSAC West play at Gannon on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The meeting between the last two PSAC and NCAA Regional Champions is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start at the Hammermill Center in Erie, Pa. Cal U and Gannon split the series last year with the home team winning each game.
