CALIFORNIA (Nov. 21) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team earned its first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon with a 70-47 win over Lock Haven in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play at the Convocation Center.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 1-3 on the year with a 1-1 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Bald Eagles fall to 2-2 overall behind an 0-2 mark in conference action. 

Junior guard Drew Cook (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls) led the team with 12 points off the bench on four-of-six shooting, including two-of-four from three-point territory. He also collected four rebounds and three assists while playing 31 minutes.

Senior Nate Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) scored 11 points, all in the second half, and registered five rebounds (four offensive) in 13 minutes off the bench. Classmate Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) tallied a game-high 10 rebounds and scored seven points in 29 minutes, while sophomore Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) led the team with five assists and added eight points on Saturday. 

The first half started with the two teams trading baskets before Lock Haven was able to take an early 7-4 lead. Cal U responded with an 11-2 run over four minutes off of four-of-six shooting from the field, including five points from Cook, to take a 15-9 lead. The Bald Eagles fought back to score seven of the next nine points to cut the lead to 17-16 with just under eight minutes remaining in the half. Cal U was able to break the run by scoring six of the next eight points before Lock Haven made two free-throws in the last 30 seconds to give Cal U a 27-22 lead at halftime.

The Vulcans opened the second half with a 13-4 run that lasted over five minutes after shooting five-of-nine from the field, including three-of-four from three-point range, and causing four turnovers. Cal U continued to control the game after Lock Haven broke the run by posting a 9-1 rally with Cordell Smith collecting three baskets in under two minutes to increase the lead to 49-29. The Bald Eagles were able to cut the lead to 54-38 before an 11-4 run from the Vulcans, including four-of-four shooting and eight points from Bellhy, brought the lead to 65-42. The two teams traded baskets for the last five minutes of the game to give Cal U a 70-47 victory. 

The Vulcans shot 44.6 percent (29-of-65) from the field, including 6-of-19 from beyond the arc after shooting just one-of-10 from long range in the first half. Meanwhile, the Bald Eagles finished at a 30.2 clip (16-of-53) from the floor. Cal U out-rebounded Lock Haven by a 46-32 margin and also scored 45 points off the bench and 22 points on second-chance opportunities. 

Senior Tracy Peal led the way for the Bald Eagles with 11 points and also recorded four rebounds, while junior Shawn Church tallied 10 points off the bench and collected a team-high seven rebounds.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 22, when they continue PSAC Crossover play against Bloomsburg in the Convocation Center at 3 pm.