INDIANA, Pa. (Nov. 14) – Behind a double-double performance from junior transfer Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East), the Vulcans earned a season-opening 87-81 win over Johnson C. Smith in the Atlantic Region Conference Challenge hosted by IUP at the Memorial Field House.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 1-0 while winning its fourth season-opener in the past five years. Meanwhile, Johnson C. Smith falls to 0-1 after falling in the semifinals of last year's Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament.

Smith led the team with 22 points and 11 rebounds (four offensive), while also adding two steals and one block. He connected on 10-of-17 attempts from the floor in the victory. Junior guard Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) scored 18 points and fellow junior Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) posted 17 points. Senior Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Vulcans jumped out to a 12-6 lead early in the first half on a three-pointer by Jacubec. Johnson C. Smith cut the deficit to 14-12 before Cal U mounted an 11-0 run after a pair of free-throws by Jabbie to take a 25-12 lead midway through the first half. A layup from Smith gave Cal U its largest lead of the half at 27-12 at the 9:04-mark before taking a 39-29 lead into halftime.

The Vulcans started the second half on a 17-7 run, highlighted by a dunk from Smith. Cal U took its largest lead of the game at 23 points after a pair of free-throws by freshman Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) stretched the lead to 64-41 with 11:04 to play. However, Johnson C. Smith made a furious comeback as the Golden Bulls used a 32-15 run over a nine-minute stretch to cut the Vulcan lead to 79-73. The Golden Bulls managed to get as close as 85-81 after a three-pointer with four seconds remaining before the Vulcans earned the win.

Cal U shot 50.8 percent (31-of-61) during the game, including 57 percent in the second half. The Vulcans out-rebounded the Golden Bulls by a 45-39 margin.

Senior Emilio Parks scored a game-high 25 points for Johnson C. Smith and was one of three players in double-figures.

Cal U continues play in the Atlantic Region Conference Challenge tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 15, when it faces Urbana at 5:30 p.m.