SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Feb. 1) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team suffered a 52-44 loss at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Wednesday night.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 8-14 this season with a 5-11 mark in league action. Meanwhile, The Rock improves to 12-10 overall behind an 8-8 record in conference play.
Junior forward
Tony Richardson (Sterling, Va./Dominion) finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds (five offensive) for his third-consecutive double-double. He now has registered five double-doubles this year, which is more than the Cal U team total last season.
Classmate
Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) led the team with 11 points on four-of-eight shooting and added four rebounds and two assists. Fellow junior
Robel Teckle (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) posted nine points and four rebounds while playing 38 minutes on Wednesday.
The teams traded baskets for the opening 13 minutes of the game with neither team scoring more than four-straight points or taking a lead larger than three points. After being held scoreless for over two minutes, Slippery Rock eventually scored nine-unanswered points to take a 28-19 lead with 1:13 left before halftime. The Vulcans later snapped a six-minute scoreless drought with a layup by Smith in the final 30 seconds of the half to cut the deficit to 28-21 at the break.
The Rock converted a three-point play in the opening 30 seconds of the second half to take a double-digit lead at 31-21. The Vulcans responded with a 12-4 run to trim the deficit to 35-33 on a three-pointer at the 14:02-mark. Slippery Rock countered with a 9-1 rally over three-plus minutes to stretch the lead to 48-38 with 5:57 left to play. Cal U then snapped a nearly six-minute stretch without a field goal, as Teckle made a jumper with 5:37 remaining. The basket started a run of six-straight points for the Vulcans, as they cut the deficit to 48-44 on free-throws by Richardson at the 1:04-mark. However, Cal U was held scoreless for the final minute of the game and Slippery Rock converted four free-throws to seal a 52-44 victory.
Cal U was held to just five field goals in the second half and was held to a season-low .300 field-goal percentage (15-of-50). The Vulcans converted just 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from beyond the arc in the loss. Meanwhile, The Rock shot a 36.4 clip (20-of-55) from the floor and only 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from long range. Cal U held a slim 37-36 rebounding advantage, as Slippery Rock was out-rebounded for just the second time this season – both by the Vulcans.
Rock senior Naquil Jones led the team with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, while junior Vinny Lasley finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
The Vulcans are idle this weekend before returning to action on Wednesday, Feb. 8 when they host Gannon at 7:30 p.m.
