• Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. (Feb. 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team cut a double-digit, second-half deficit to just one point in the closing minutes before falling 74-70 to No. 13 IUP at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex in the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the loss, the Vulcans finish the year with an 18-11 overall record after earning the fourth seed in the league tournament. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks improve to 23-4 this season and advance to the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament, which will be hosted at the highest remaining PSAC East seed. Cal U and IUP have met in the quarterfinals of the tournament in back-to-back seasons with the Crimson Hawks winning at home both times.

Seniors Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Steve Swiech (Greenock, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) each scored a team-high 12 points in the loss. Tipton shot four-of-seven from the floor, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, while Swiech made 8-of-10 from the free-throw line and led the team with nine rebounds (three offensive).

Redshirt junior guard Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) added 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists against the Crimson Hawks. Freshmen Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) and Jeremy Posey (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) each finished with eight points off the bench.

Trailing 9-6 early in the game, the Vulcans scored six-unanswered points to take a 12-11 lead on a lay-up by junior Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) at the 13:12-mark. IUP responded by mounting a 10-1 run over four minutes to take a 21-13 lead with 9:15 left in the first half. With the Crimson Hawks leading 28-19, the Vulcans went on a 7-3 rally to cut the deficit to 31-26 after a three-pointer by Posey with just under two minutes before the break. After IUP responded with a jumper, Tipton converted a trey to trim the deficit to 33-29 before the Crimson Hawks made a lay-up at the buzzer to take a 35-29 lead at halftime.

Cal U opened the second half with a dunk by Posey before IUP scored nine-consecutive points to take a 44-31 lead and force the Vulcans into a timeout with 16:13 remaining. After a media timeout, the Crimson Hawks increased their lead to 50-32 after a four-point play by sophomore Marcel Souberbielle. Cal U then scored eight-straight points to trim the deficit to 50-40 following a pair of free-throws by Swiech at the 9:43-mark. The Crimson Hawks answered by stretching their lead to 14 points, 59-44, on a three-pointer by senior Julian Sanders with 6:53 left in the game. Cal U responded with a 16-5 run over four-plus minutes to cut the deficit to 64-60 following a dunk by Posey with just over two minutes remaining. Following a timeout, Tipton converted a trey at the 1:40-mark to make it a one-point contest before IUP sealed the win by making 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Cal U finished the game shooting 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the field after making 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc. IUP posted similar marks by making 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the floor and 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from long range. The Vulcans out-rebounded the Crimson Hawks by a 39-27 margin and scored 28 points from inside the paint.

Sanders finished with a game-high 27 points after making 8-of-14 from the field, including five three-pointers. Senior Ashton Smith posted 14 points, six rebounds and nine assists, while Souberbielle added 15 points and four steals in the win.