• Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. (Feb. 9) – Junior forward Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) posted a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds on Wednesday night, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team dropped an 80-52 loss to IUP at Memorial Fieldhouse in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 11-9 this season and are tied for fourth place in the divisional standings with a 4-5 record. Meanwhile, the regionally-ranked Crimson Hawks improve to 15-5 overall with a 6-2 league mark. IUP has now won the last six meetings against Cal U since the Vulcans swept the season series in 2007-08.

Swiech scored in double-figures for the seventh-straight game, establishing a season high with 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He also grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds (nine offensive) to register his second career double-double.

Junior Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) finished with 12 points after making four-of-seven from beyond the arc, while sophomore Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) collected seven rebounds while scoring only one point.

The Crimson Hawks jumped out to a 13-4 lead at the first media timeout after the Vulcans were issued four fouls in the first 1:43 of the game. IUP then mounted an 8-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to force Cal U to call its second 30-second timeout of the game with 11:07 left in the half, 21-7. The Vulcans then played even with the Crimson Hawks, 16-16, over the final 11-plus minutes to enter halftime down 37-23.

IUP opened the second half on an 11-3 run to expand its lead to 22 points, 48-26, with 16:00 left in the game. Between the next two media timeouts, the Crimson Hawks went on a 16-4 rally to stretch its lead to 34 points, 64-30, with 10:40 remaining. IUP led by as many as 37 points, 71-34, in the second half before Cal U closed the game on an 18-9 run over the final seven-plus minutes.

For the game, Cal U was limited to 35.2 percent (19-of-54) from the field and Tipton accounted for all four treys made on Wednesday. IUP shot an impressive 54.2 percent (26-of-48) from the floor and 76.7 percent (23-of-30) from the free-throw line.

The Vulcans held a 35-30 advantage on the glass and scored 21 second-chance points after collecting 17 offensive rebounds. In the loss, Cal U committed 22 turnovers and registered just five assists on 19 field-goals. The 52 points scored by the Vulcans is their lowest total this year and lowest since they managed only 47 in a loss at Gannon last season.

IUP senior Darryl Webb finished with a team-high 22 points on six-of-seven from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, while classmate Willi Estrella added 16 points and six rebounds.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Feb. 12, when they host PSAC West-leading Mercyhurst at 7 p.m.in the first of four-straight games at Hamer Hall. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.