CALIFORNIA (Dec. 3) – Despite a season-high 36 points from freshman guard
Ramon Creighton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice), the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team suffered an 84-80 loss against Cheyney in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 2-6 overall behind a 0-3 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Wolves improve to 1-6 on the year and 1-3 in conference play.
Creighton posted the program's first 30-point since March 2008 and the 36 points are the highest single-game point total since December 2001. He shot 11-of-16 from the floor, including four-of-seven from beyond the arc, and went 10-of-14 from the free-throw line. He also added three rebounds, two assists and five steals while playing 37 minutes.
Junior forward
Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) recorded a double-double with 14 points on seven-of-nine from the floor while adding 10 rebounds (eight offensive). Classmate
Robel Teckle (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) tallied 10 points after going four-of-four from the field with a pair of three-pointers and also collected four rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
Cheyney jumped out to an early 8-4 lead before a layup from Creighton sparked a 10-3 run to give Cal U a 14-11 lead. A pair of free-throws from Cheyney led to a 6-2 run to regain the lead at 17-16 with 10:41 left before halftime. Back-to-back three-pointers from Teckle and Creighton gave Cal U a 22-17 lead midway through the first half. Cheyney responded with a 12-4 run to take a 29-26 lead with 5:52 left in the half. Another trey by Teckle led to a 9-3 run from Cal U to give them a 35-32 lead before Cheyney ended the half on a 14-7 run to take a 46-42 lead going into the break.
The Wolves opened the second half with an 8-4 run to extend the lead to 54-46. A three-pointer from Creighton sparked a 15-4 run by the Vulcans to take the lead 61-58. The Wolves answered with six-straight points to regain the lead at 64-61 midway through the second half. Following a layup from Richardson, the Vulcans went on a 9-6 run to tie the score at 70-70. The two teams traded baskets until a three-pointer gave the Wolves a 77-74 lead with 3:35 remaining in the game. A layup from Creighton pulled the Vulcans within 77-76, however, Cheyney ended the game on a 7-4 run to earn an 84-80 victory.
Cal U shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the floor while going 61.8 percent (21-of-34) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Cheyney shot 52.6 percent (30-of-57) from the field and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the charity stripe. The Wolves held a 37-30 rebounding advantage and also finished with a 35-22 edge in bench points.
Cheyney freshman Zahir Stewart and junior Rafiq Mashall tied for the team lead with 15 points. Marshall added four rebounds and a team-high four assists. Fellow junior Craig McGlond collected 10 points in the win.
The Vulcans continue PSAC Crossover play tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 4, when they host in the Convocation Center at 3 p.m.
