• Box Score

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (Jan. 4) – Seniors Keith Lowe (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) and Mitchell Weedon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) both recorded 20-point games on Friday night to lift the Vulcans to a 79-71 win at Kutztown in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 5-5 this season with a 4-2 record in league play. Meanwhile, Kutztown falls to 3-9 overall behind a 2-4 mark in conference action.

Lowe scored a game-high 23 points after shooting 8-of-17 from the floor and six-of-seven from the free-throw line. He also posted eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in the victory. Lowe has now scored at least 20 points in six of the last seven games and ranks fifth in the league this season with 19.1 points per game.

Weedon recorded his second double-double of the season, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds on Friday. He made 8-of-12 attempts from the field and four-of-four from the free-throw line against the Golden Bears. Sophomore Tynell Fortune (Harlem, N.Y./Pocono Mountain West (Pa.)) added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while freshman Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) tied his season high with 11 points.

The Vulcans took a 34-32 halftime lead before the Golden Bears mounted a 6-0 run to start the second half and take a 38-34 lead with 18:39 left to play. Cal U then scored four-straight points to tie the game, 38-38, on a jumper by Lowe before Kutztown responded with eight-unanswered points to take a 46-38 lead with 12:49 remaining.

Trailing 61-60 with less than five minutes remaining, Cal U scored nine-unanswered points to take a 70-61 lead on a jumper by Lowe with 2:40 left to play. The Golden Bears trimmed the deficit to 70-64 before Lowe scored three-straight points to give the Vulcans a 73-64 lead with 1:09 remaining. Kutztown responded with a three-pointer with 34 seconds left before Lowe made a pair of free-throws, 75-67. Kutztown answered with a layup on its next possession before Fortune sealed the victory with four free-throws in the final 11 seconds of the game.

The Vulcans made 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field and shot an impressive 95.0 percent (19-of-20) from the free-throw line, their highest single-game percentage in recent program history (minimum 15 free-throws). Meanwhile, the Golden Bears shot at a 48.3 clip (29-of-60) from the floor and just 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from the charity stripe. Cal U held a 39-32 rebounding advantage behind 19 offensive rebounds.

All five Kutztown starters scored in double figures led by 17 points by senior Micah Fraction and sophomore Abdul King. Freshman Ryan Connolly finished with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.

Cal U continues its weekend road trip tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 5, when it faces defending-PSAC Champion East Stroudsburg at 7:30 p.m.