CLARION, Pa. (Jan. 24) – Senior
Robel Teckle (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) finished with 24 points to lead four players in double-figures on Wednesday night, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team defeated Clarion 85-68 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the win, the Vulcans snap a three-game losing streak to improve to 9-11 this season with a 5-9 record in league action. Cal U has now won three-straight contests against Clarion dating back to last season. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 3-17 overall behind a 0-14 mark in conference play.
Teckle scored 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including six-of-eight from long range, and added nine rebounds, four assists and two steals while playing 37 minutes. The 6-foot-7 senior is averaging 18.7 points over the last four games and has converted 18 three-pointers during that span.
Junior
Jahmere Howze (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) tallied 19 points on 7-of-11 attempts and made five-of-eight from the free-throw line. He collected eight rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes off the bench. Howze ranks first on the team with 7.5 rebounds per game and sits third with 16.6 points per game. Senior
Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) and freshman
Philip Alexander (Laurel, Md./Mt. Zion Prep) both finished with 15 points against the Golden Eagles. Smith made 5-of-13 from the field and added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 37 minutes, while Alexander shot 6-of-12 and collected three rebounds and three assists on Wednesday.
Cal U opened the game with a three-pointer by Smith before mounting an 11-0 rally to take an 18-5 lead with 14:01 left in the first half. During the run, the Vulcans converted five-of-six from the floor while Teckle led the way with seven points. Clarion closed the gap to 29-20 with 7:12 remaining in the half before Cal U scored five-straight points to extend its lead. Both teams traded points in the final three-plus minutes, as the Vulcans took a 42-27 lead into the break.
The Vulcans tallied 10-unanswered points to begin the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 52-29 with 15:34 left. Clarion quickly trimmed the deficit with a 13-3 run after holding Cal U to one made field goal over a two-plus minutes stretch. The Golden Eagles later converted three-of-five from the field to cut the deficit to 62-50 before the Vulcans extended the lead back to 20-points with 7:59 remaining. Clarion made one final push to closing minutes, but Cal U went seven-of-nine from the free-throw line to secure an 85-68 victory.
The Vulcans finished the contest with a .476 shooting percentage (30-of-63) and converted 11-of-29 (37.6 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles shot 40.8 percent (29-of-71) from the floor and made 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from long range. Cal U held a 32-30 rebound advantage, while forcing 16 turnovers and totaling 19 bench points.
Senior guard Cameron Grumley posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes while redshirt junior Brandon Williams finished with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshmen Khari Williams and Israel Atkins both tallied eight points in the loss.
The Vulcans return to PSAC West action on Saturday, Jan. 27, when they host Slippery Rock at the Convocation Center with tipoff set for 3 p.m.
