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Box Score
CLARION, Pa. (Feb. 11) – Sophomore guard
Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) scored a season- and career-high 18 points on Thursday night, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team posted its third-straight victory with a 72-60 win at Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at the Tippin Gymnasium.
After a six-game skid, the Vulcans have won three-consecutive games to improve to 15-9 overall and 3-6 in league play. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles drop back to second place in the conference standings with a 7-2 league mark and 15-7 overall record.
Vann finished with a game-high 18 points (11 in the second half) on five-of-nine shooting from the field and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Maryland native added seven rebounds, three assists and four steals on Thursday. Over the last three games, Vann is scoring 12.0 points per game after averaging 7.7 points prior to last week.
Sophomore forward
Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) posted 16 points and seven rebounds (four offensive) in the win, while junior forward
Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Cal U, who led the entire game, took a 36-31 lead at halftime after leading by as many as nine points in the first half. Late in the second half, the Vulcans held a three-point lead before expanding their lead back to nine points with a 14-6 run over a span of four-plus minutes. After Clarion made it a two-possession game with a three-point play, Vann scored four-straight points to give Cal U a 68-60 lead with 40 seconds left. Sophomore guard
Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Wester) sealed the win with two free-throws 20 seconds later.
The Vulcans posted their best shooting performance in nearly three weeks, shooting 50.0 percent (27-of-54) from the floor despite just 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from beyond the arc. In comparison, the Golden Eagles made 35.6 percent (21-of-59) of their shots from the field and 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from long range.
Cal U also held a 42-34 advantage on the glass and scored 13 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds. The Vulcans collected 11 assists on 27 field-goals, led by three assists from both Vann and junior guard
Joe Berenato (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic).
The Vulcans conclude their road trip on Saturday, Feb. 13, when they travel to face Lock Haven. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
