JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Nov. 18) – The Vulcans opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a 93-61 loss in crossover action at Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday night.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team falls to 0-3 this season with a 0-1 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats improve to 2-1 overall after opening conference action with a 1-0 record.
Sophomore guard
Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) led the team with a career-high 13 points off the bench after shooting five-of-nine from the floor, including three-of-six from beyond the arc. Senior
Nate Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) finished with 11 points off the bench and classmate
Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) added eight points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals. Sophomore forward
Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) paced the team with 10 rebounds (seven offensive) in the loss.
The Vulcans scored the opening basket of the game before the Mountain Cats mounted an 18-3 run over eight-plus minutes, behind a pair of nine-unanswered rallies, to take an 18-6 lead with 10:32 left in the first half. Cal U then scored five of the next seven points before UPJ countered with a 10-2 rally over nearly three minutes to take a 30-13 lead at the 5:21-mark. Following a three-point play by the Vulcans, the Mountain Cats closed the first half on a 12-3 run to stretch their lead to 42-19 at the break.
UPJ scored eight-straight points to start the second half and increased its lead to 50-19 with 17:20 left to play. After the Vulcans made a free-throw less than 30 seconds later, the Mountain Cats extended their lead to 69-27 with 10:10 remaining following a 19-7 run over a span of nearly seven minutes. The teams traded points for almost five minutes before UPJ mounted a 12-5 rally to take a 91-48 lead with 3:20 remaining. The Vulcans then closed the game on a 14-3 run to trim the deficit to 94-62.
The Vulcans shot under 25 percent in the first half before finishing the game at 32.7 percent (18-of-55) from the floor, including 7-of-16 from beyond the arc after halftime. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats shot at a 50.7 clip (35-of-69) from the floor after making 15-of-25 from three-point territory. UPJ held a 42-37 rebounding advantage and also scored 25 second-chance points.
Senior Nate Snodgrass and sophomore Isaac Vescovi both finished with 15 points after each made three treys. Junior A.J. Leahey added a double-double with 13 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds.
Cal U returns to action with a PSAC Crossover weekend homestand, beginning on Saturday, Nov. 21, when it hosts Lock Haven on Alumni Day at 3 p.m.
