• Box Score

CLARION, Pa. (Feb. 23) – The Vulcans clinched a spot in next week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Wednesday night with their 89-77 victory over Clarion at Tippin Gymnasium in PSAC West play.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 14-11 overall this season with a 7-6 mark in divisional action. The Vulcans have now secured their first PSAC Tournament appearance since winning the league title in 2008. Cal U has won 11 of the past 12 meetings against Clarion at the Tippin Gymnasium. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles were eliminated from post-season contention by falling to 14-11 this year with a 5-8 mark in league play.

Senior guard Joe Berenato (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) scored a season-high 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench on Wednesday. He made 6-of-13 attempts from the field, including four-of-nine from beyond the arc against the Golden Eagles.

Junior forward Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) finished with 17 points on six-of-eight shooting from the floor and five-of-six from the free-throw line, while sophomore guard Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) added 15 points off the bench. Senior forward Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) and junior guard Freddy Appiah (Toronto, Ontario/Ascension of Our Lord) both nearly registered a double-double at Clarion. Hatten posted 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Appiah collected nine points and a season-high nine assists.

Clarion made seven of its first eight shots to jump out to a quick 16-4 lead and led by as many as 14 points, 22-8, with 11:55 left in the half. The Vulcans worked the deficit down to eight points, 27-19, at the 6:24-mark on a three-pointer by Berenato before the Golden Eagles countered with an 8-2 run to reclaim a 14-point lead, 35-21, with 3:49 remaining in the first half. Cal U responded with an 11-2 rally capped by a layup by junior guard CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) at the buzzer to enter halftime trailing 37-32.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Berenato gave the Vulcans their first lead of the game, 47-44, with the first of back-to-back treys which were followed up by a three-pointer from junior Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western), 50-44. Leading 55-49, Harding scored five-straight points and Appiah converted a pair of free-throws, as Cal U stretched its lead to 62-49 with 11:03 remaining in the game. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to single digits, 62-53, before the Vulcans scored eight-unanswered points to claim a 17-point lead, 70-53, on a pair of free-throws by Appiah at the 7:11-mark. Clarion trimmed the lead down to seven points, 82-75, before Cal U made seven-of-eight free-throws down the stretch to seal the win.

In stark contrast from the first half, the Vulcans shot a blistering 61.5 percent in the second half to finish the game making 48.2 percent (27-of-56) of their shots. Cal U also made a season-high 28 free-throws on 37 attempts (75.7 percent) and made seven treys on 19 attempts (36.8 percent). Meanwhile, Clarion shot 43.3 percent (29-of-67) from the field in the game and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the charity stripe.

Cal U held a 39-34 advantage on the glass and scored 32 points from inside the paint. The Vulcans' bench accounted for 39 points compared to only five bench points for the Golden Eagles. Cal U committed just 10 turnovers on Wednesday and is averaging 9.0 turnovers per game during its three-game win streak.

Junior forward Paul McQueen led four Clarion starters in double-figures with 19 points, while senior guard Mike Sherry finished with 18 points behind four treys.

The Vulcans conclude the regular season on Saturday, Feb., 26, when they travel to face Lock Haven for a 3 p.m. tip. Cal U has won the last three meetings at Thomas Field House after losing on the road to the Bald Eagles in 2006 and 2007.