• Box Score

GLENVILLE, W.Va. (Jan. 6) – Freshman guard Ryne Niemiec (Brownsville, Pa./Beth-Center) scored a season-high 21 points and sophomore forward Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) added 19 points and seven rebounds on Wednesday evening, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team earned a 95-81 win over Glenville State at the Jesse R. Lilly Gym.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 10-3 this year after winning only 13 games all of last season. Meanwhile, the Pioneers fall to 2-7 overall this season.

The 95 points scored by Cal U are the most since a 120-31 victory over Penn State-Greater Allegheny in the season-opener of the 2007-08 season.The Vulcans have now won three-straight games and hold a 4-1 record in road games this season.

Niemiec tallied 21 points after making six-of-nine attempts from the floor, including five three-pointers. The Brownsville native, who was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Freshman of the Week on Monday, also added three rebounds and four assists in the win.

Kelsey Williams posted his 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and five-of-eight from the free-throw line. Junior forward Andrew Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Cheltenham) added 12 points, while junior guard Travis Williams (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God Christian Academy) finished with 10 points and six assists. Fellow guard Joe Berenato (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) scored 13 points off the bench, including 11 in the second half, and junior forward Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) posted eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

With the score tied at 33-33 and 2:32 left in the first half, the Vulcans scored 10-straight points to enter halftime with a 44-34 lead. Shortly after the break, Cal U expanded its lead to 21 points, 64-43, with 13:18 remaining after mounting a 15-5 rally over a span of 5:29. The Pioneers worked the deficit down to single-digits, 83-74, with 2:02 left in the game after out-scoring the Vulcans by a 12-4 margin over a three-plus minute stretch. Niemiec then countered with a three-pointer and Cal U made five-of-six free-throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Cal U, who shot above 50 percent in both halves, finished the game shooting 53.4 percent (31-of-58) from the floor and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three-point territory. The Vulcans also excelled from the free-throw line, making a season-high 25-of-31 attempts (80.6 percent). Glenville State also shot well in the game, posting a .459 field-goal percentage (28-of-61) behind 15 three-pointers.

Junior guard Ryan Burts scored a game-high 32 points after making 12-of-16 attempts from the floor, highlighted by seven-of-nine from beyond the arc. Classmate Gabe Gibbs added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.

The Vulcans out-rebounded the Pioneers by a 40-25 margin and benefited from 24 second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds. Cal U committed a season-low nine turnovers in comparison to 21 assists.

Cal U returns to action this weekend with a pair of road league crossover games, beginning with a game at Cheyney on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 3 p.m. Last year, the Vulcans posted a last-second 55-53 victory over the Wolves at Hamer Hall.