MANSFIELD, Pa. (Nov. 20) – Despite having four players scoring in double digits, including 18 points from junior
Luka Andjusic (Belgrade, Serbia/Borislav Petrov Braca), the Vulcans dropped a 73-70 contest at Mansfield on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team falls to 2-3 overall behind a 0-2 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers, which beat Duquense in an exhibition, improve to 3-2 on the year with a 1-1 record in league action.
Andjusic led the team with 18 points off the bench, including 12 in the first half, on four-of-eight from beyond the arc. In only his second game of the year, he collected five rebounds and a team-high six assists at Mansfield on Sunday.
Junior forward
Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) added 14 points and seven rebounds, while classmate
Daniel Sapp (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) tallied 11 points, four rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes of action. Freshman guard
Ramon Creighton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) finished with 10 points in the loss.
Cal U held an early 12-10 lead before Mansfield scored 12-consecutive points as part of a 19-3 run to take a 29-15 lead with 8:04 left in the first half. A layup from Creighton sparked five-straight points by the Vulcans to cut the deficit to 29-20 at the 7:07-mark. Mansfield stretched its lead back to double-digits before Cal U mounted an 11-2 run to trim the deficit to 35-33 on a three-pointer by Adjusic with 48 seconds left in the first half. The Mountaineers made a jumper in the closing seconds second to take a 37-33 lead at the break.
The Vulcans raced out to a 11-2 run to open the second half and held a 44-39 lead on a three-pointer by Creighton with 18:04 left play. Mansfield countered with a 13-3 rally to reclaim the lead at 52-47 with 13:54 remaining. A three-pointer from junior
Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) ignited an 8-3 run to tie the score at 55-55 before the Mountaineers later responded with a 9-4 run over four minutes to take a 67-62 lead at the 4:48-mark. Cal U then closed the deficit to within one point twice, including at 70-69 on a three-pointer by Sapp with 1:25 left to play. However, the Vulcans were unable to make a field goal in the final minute-plus of the game.
Cal U finished the game shooting 50 percent (26-of-52) from the field behind 48.1 percent (13-27) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Mansfield shot 42.2 percent (27-of-64) from the field despite going 5-of-18 from three-point territory. Cal U held a 38-31 rebounding advantage, but committed 23 turnovers that were converted into 23 points.
Mansfield junior Malik Carter finished with a game-high 21 points after shooting 8-of-17 from the field. He also tied for the team lead with six rebounds and added four assists and three steals in 38 minutes. Fellow junior Jahyde Gardiner posted 17 points and four rebounds in the win.
The Vulcans continue their road trip on Tuesday, Nov. 22, when they travel to face Ashland in non-conference play at 7:30 p.m.
