CLARION, Pa. (Dec. 6) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team was unable to overcome a 12-point deficit in the closing minutes on Saturday night, suffering an 80-73 loss at Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 6-3 overall after entering play on a four-game winning streak. Cal U also drops to 2-2 in league action. Meanwhile, Clarion improves to 3-3 this season with a 1-2 mark in conference play under first-year head coach Marcess Williams.
Junior forward
Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) set season highs and led all players with 25 points and 13 rebounds (five offensive), marking his second double-double in the last three games. He made 10-of-14 attempts from the field, including all six shots in the second half, while tying a season high with 38 minutes. Smith also added four assists, three steals and two blocks in the losing effort.
Fellow junior
Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) posted 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added seven assists, while four other players collected at least five points on Saturday.
The teams traded baskets for the opening third of the first half before Cal U mounted an 11-4 run over six-plus minutes to take a 23-19 lead after a traditional three-point play by senior
Arman Marks (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) with 6:36 left in the first half. After a free-throw by the Golden Eagles, the Vulcans posted a 7-2 rally to take their largest lead of the game at 30-22 on a dunk by Smith at the 2:25-mark. Clarion countered with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 32-32 before Cal U took a 34-32 lead at halftime following a last-second layup by Smith.
The Golden Eagles scored a pair of baskets to open the second half before the Vulcan mounted a 12-6 run over five-plus minutes to take a 46-43 lead with 12:48 left to play. Clarion answered with a 15-6 rally after making 7-of-10 shots to take a 58-52 lead with 8:04 remaining. The Golden Eagles eventually stretched their lead to as many as 12 points, 70-58, with 2:37 left to play.
Jabbie converted a three-point play on the ensuing possession before junior
Jake Jacubec (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) made a three-pointer to the cut the deficit to 70-64 at the 2:18-mark. Cal U then managed to the trim the deficit to 73-68 on a layup by Jabbie with 57 seconds remaining before Clarion made two-of-four free-throws. Smith scored on a jumper with 20 seconds before the Golden Eagles sealed the victory by converting five-of-six free-throws.
Cal U finished the game shooting 50.0 percent (29-of-58) from the floor and just 57.1 percent (12-of-21) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Clarion shot at a 47.4 clip (27-of-57) from the field and 66.7 percent (24-of-36) from the charity stripe. The Vulcans out-rebounded the Golden Eagles by a 39-33 margin, but committed a season-high 25 turnovers.
Junior Darius Stevens and freshman Brandon Williams both led the Golden Eagles with 18 points. Junior Kyheim Hall added 17 points and sophomore BJ Andrews finished with 12 points after making 10-of-13 attempts from the free-throw line.
The Vulcans are idle next week before returning to action with home games on back-to-back days, starting Dec. 16 against Shippensburg at 7:30 p.m.
