EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 3) – Despite a career-high 23 points off the bench by sophomore guard
Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw), the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team dropped a 103-77 contest at East Stroudsburg on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 5-8 this season behind a 3-5 mark in league play. Cal U has now yielded 100 points in a game twice this season after not allowing an opponent to reach the century mark since February 2006. Meanwhile, the Warriors improve to 9-3 overall and 5-3 in conference action.
Smith finished with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting and also collected five rebounds and three steals in a career-high 31 minutes. Smith is averaging 14.3 points over the last three games while shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the field.
Senior
Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) posted 14 points, six rebounds (four offensive) and two blocks, while classmate
Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) tallied 13 points, five assists and three steals. Sophomore
Nick Miller (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) added 12 points – all in the second half – off the bench.
The Warriors mounted an early 17-2 run to build a 17-4 lead with 14:53 left in the first half. Cal U then scored eight of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to 19-12 on a layup by Jabbie at the 11:13-mark before East Stroudsburg later answered with 11-straight points to build a 32-14 lead with 8:16 remaining before the break. The teams traded baskets before the Warriors engineered a 12-3 rally over almost four minutes to stretch the lead to 49-23 with 2:52 left in the first half. After a pair of Cal U free-throws, East Stroudsburg closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 58-27 lead at the break.
The teams traded points in the opening minutes of the second half before the Warriors scored eight-straight points to take a 76-41 lead with 12:10 remaining. Cal U then worked the deficit down to 78-51 with 9:36 left to play following a 10-2 run. The Warriors would lead by as many as 33 points, 84-51, in the final nine-plus minutes, while the Vulcans were only able to cut the deficit to 23 points, 92-69.
The Vulcans made 47.6 percent (30-of-63) from the floor and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the free-throw line. However, the Warriors shot over 77 percent in the first half and finished the game shooting at a 64.7 clip (44-for-68) from the field. East Stroudsburg finished with a 35-27 edge in rebounds and scored 29 points off turnovers.
ESU senior Jamal Nwaniemeka led six players in double-digits with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including four-of-six from beyond the arc. Classmate Will Brown added 18 points, while junior Rasheed Moore finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 6, when they host West Chester in PSAC Crossover play at 7:30 p.m.
