SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (Dec. 9) – Despite averaging over 90 points per game, the Vulcans were held to a season-low in scoring while suffering an 84-59 loss at Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team drops back-to-back games for the first time this season to fall to 5-4 overall behind a 2-3 record in league action. Meanwhile, Shippensburg improves to 7-2 this season with a 4-1 mark in conference play. The Raiders were selected the preseason PSAC East favorite after claiming the league title last season.
 
Junior Jahmere Howze (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 attempts and added four rebounds in 27 minutes. He has posted three 20-point performances this season while converting at least eight shots in three contests this year.
 
Senior Isaiah Lewis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) finished with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting and collected four rebounds and two assists on Saturday. Freshman Philip Alexander (Laurel, Md./Mt. Zion Prep) posted seven points and two assists in his first career start while playing a season-high 36 minutes. Senior Terry Davis, Jr. (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) tallied six points, eight rebounds and three assists, while classmate Robel Teckle (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) posted six points and two rebounds against the Raiders.
 
Shippensburg started the contest on a 13-5 run after making six-of-nine from the floor while Cal U converted just two field goals. Both teams struggled over the next eight minutes making just nine shots while the Raiders held a 24-16 lead with 6:48 remaining in the first half. Shippensburg then closed the half on a 20-5 run to take a sizeable 44-21 advantage into the break. During the rally, the Raiders made 8-of-13 from the floor, including three-of-six from beyond the arc.
 
The Vulcans cut the deficit to 49-31 with a 10-5 rally after going a perfect four-of-four from the field. Shippensburg extended the lead to 27 points following a 14-5 run before both teams traded the next 10 points with 8:42 left in the second half. Howze scored eight points over a six-plus minute stretch to cut the deficit to 77-57 before the Raiders finished the game on a 7-2 run to earn the victory.
 
Cal U finished the game with a .407 field-goal percentage (24-of-59) while converting just 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Shippensburg shot 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the floor and made 10-of-27 from long range. The Raiders held a comfortable 48-28 rebounding advantage and converted 12 second-chance points.
 
Senior Dustin Sleva, the reigning PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year, posted a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes. Fellow senior Justin McCarthur totaled 18 points, three rebounds and three assists, while teammate John Castello scored 15 points on 7-of-11 attempts and collected nine rebounds.
 
Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 16, when it travels to face national runner-up Fairmont State at 4 p.m.