• Box Score

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Jan. 11) – The Vulcans featured four players scoring in double-digits on Saturday afternoon while suffering a 78-64 loss at Pitt-Johnstown in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team falls to 6-9 this season with a 1-4 mark in league action. The Vulcans have lost six of seven games on the road this year. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats improve to 10-5 overall and 3-2 in divisional play.

Sophomore Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) and junior Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) both scored a team-high 13 points in the loss. Marks made 5-of-12 attempts from the floor, including three-of-eight from beyond the arc, and Jacubec shot four-of-seven from long range. Marks also led the team with eight rebounds and Jacubec tallied six rebounds and two assists.

Freshman Drew Cook (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls) and junior Alonzo Murphy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) each posted 10 points, while senior Chris Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) finished with nine points, five rebounds and three assists against the Mountain Cats.

Cal U held a 35-33 lead at halftime and withstood five ties by UPJ early in the second half. However, the Mountain Cats engineered a sizeable 31-8 run to take a 74-54 lead with 3:15 remaining after limiting the Vulcans to only three field-goals over a span of 10-plus minutes. 

The Vulcans finished the game making 34.4 percent (22-of-64) from the floor, tying their season high with nine three-pointers on 24 attempts (37.5 percent). In comparison, the Mountain Cats shot at a 54.2 clip (32-of-59) from the field and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from long range. UPJ out-rebounded Cal U by a 40-38 margin and scored 44 points in the paint despite 16 offensive rebounds by the Vulcans.

Senior Bill Luther led the Mountain Cats with 16 points behind four three-pointers. Junior Matt Palo added 15 points off the bench and sophomore Nate Snodgrass collected seven assists with no turnovers.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when it hosts Clarion at 7:30 p.m.