CALIFORNIA (Nov. 18) – Behind an impressive .667 shooting percentage in the second half, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team rallied to defeat Kutztown 89-87 on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action.
 
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 3-1 on the season behind a 1-0 record in league play. Cal U notched a win over Kutztown for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 2-1 overall with a 0-1-mark in league action after playing in the PSAC Championship last year.
 
Senior Terry Davis, Jr. (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) registered a team-high 23 points after shooting 10-of-16 from the field and added nine rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes. Senior Isaiah Lewis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ of King) scored 21 points on 8-of-12 attempts from the floor and collected two assists against the Golden Bears. The two senior transfers are both averaging over 21 points through the opening four games of the season.
 
Freshman Philip Alexander (Laurel, Md./Mt. Zion Prep) posted a season-high 17 points after going 7-of-10 from the field, including two-of-two from the beyond the arc, and collected three rebounds and two assists. Senior Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) totaled 12 points after shooting five-of-nine from the floor and collected two rebounds and six assists.
 
Kutztown started the game on an 11-2 run as Cal U only managed to go one-of-five from the field during that initial four-minute stretch. The Vulcans countered with an 11-4 rally to trim the deficit to 15-13 while shooting five-of-eight from the field. Kutztown attempted to extend its lead, but Alexander tallied 10 points during a six-minute span to keep Cal U down just 30-28 with 4:24 left in the first half. Davis tallied a pair of buckets to give the Vulcans 34-30 lead. Cal U was held to only one field goal for the remainder of the first half and Kutztown built a 9-3 run before taking a 39-37 lead into the break.
 
The Golden Bears extended their lead heading into the second half to 45-41 following back-to-back jumpers and a pair of free-throws. The Vulcans responded with a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead at 48-45 capped with a layup by Smith with 17:12 left in the game. Kutztown took the lead right back following a 12-7 rally before Cal U used a 15-6 run to jump out to an 11-point lead, which was the largest lead of the contest. The Vulcans went eight-of-eight from the field during the stretch as Smith sank a pair of three-pointers. Kutztown tied the game at 76-76 with a 13-2 rally when it turned Cal U over three times and held them to only three field goals. The Vulcans reclaimed the lead at 84-78 with 1:49 left in the second half before the Golden Bears countered with a 6-2 run cut the deficit to 86-84. Junior Jahmere Howze (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) extend the Cal U lead to 89-87 before a last-second three-pointer by Kutztown missed the mark to seal the victory.
 
The Vulcans finished the game shooting 52.9 percent (36-of-68) from the floor and converted 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears made 29-of-66 from the field and shoot a notable 88 percent (22-of-25) from the line. Cal U held a 41-33 advantage on rebounds and tallied 23 off the bench.

Kutztown guard Ethan Ridgeway, an All-PSAC First-Team selection last year, registered a career-high 40 points on 13-of-26 shooting, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Junior Dan Cuevas posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while fellow junior Anthony Lee scored 13 points and added five rebounds.
 
Cal U continues its weekend homestand tomorrow, Sunday. Nov. 19, when it faces Mansfield in the Convocation Center at 3 p.m.