• Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. (Jan. 11) – The Vulcans opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action with a 68-58 loss to No. 14 IUP on Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team falls to 8-7 this season with a 5-4 record in league play. Meanwhile, IUP improves to 11-2 overall behind an 8-1 mark in conference action.

Junior guard Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) scored a team-high 16 points on 6-of-12 from the field and two-of-five from the three-point territory. He also collected four assists while playing 35 minutes in the loss on Wednesday. In six games this season, Lowe is averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

Senior Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) finished with 11 points after making five-of-five from the floor at IUP. Junior forward Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) added nine points, three rebounds and three steals off the bench.

After the game was tied at halftime, the Crimson Hawks opened the second half on a commanding 16-2 run over six-plus minutes to stretch their lead to 46-32 with 13:45 remaining. After a 30-second timeout, the Vulcans mounted a 13-8 rally to trim the deficit to 54-45 at the 7:53-mark. Cal U later cut the deficit to six points, 62-56, after a layup by senior Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) with 2:31 left in the game. The two teams later traded free-throws before the Crimson Hawks sealed the win with four free-throws down the stretch.

Cal U finished the game shooting at a 47.9 clip (23-of-48) from the floor and just 16.7 percent (2-of-12) from the free-throw line. IUP managed to shoot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the field and 75.9 percent (22-of-29) from the free-throw line. The Vulcans were out-rebounded by a 35-23 advantage and collected only seven assists in the loss.

Seniors Ashton Smith and Julian Sanders combined for 45 points and 12 rebounds with Smith scoring a game-high 24 points. Sanders led all players with eight rebounds on Wednesday.

Cal U continues divisional play on Saturday, Jan. 14, when it hosts Gannon on “Youth Basketball Night” at the Convocation Center with tip set for 5 p.m. There will be special prices available for parents, families and coaches with kids up to 13 being admitted free when wearing their jerseys. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.