FAIRMONT, W.Va. (Nov. 10) – Despite featuring four players with double-digit points, the Vulcans fell 73-61 versus Notre Dame (Ohio) on Saturday night in the final day of the Joe Retton Classic hosted by Fairmont State.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team drops to 0-2 on the season while playing a pair of games in West Virginia. Meanwhile, the Falcons improve to 2-0 overall after being selected fourth in the preseason Mountain East Conference (MEC) poll.
 
Sophomore transfer Brent Pegram (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) finished with 17 points on four-of-eight from the field, while also shooting seven-of-nine from the free-throw line, in 40 minutes of play. Freshman Collin MacAdams (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) tallied 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and totaled a team-leading nine rebounds (five offensive) while playing all 40 minutes. Classmate Jermaine Hall, Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Severn School) also scored 11 points and added eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in 40 minutes of action against the Falcons.
 
Freshman Kenneth Lee III (Rankin, Pa./Woodland Hills) posted 10 points on three-of-six from the floor and added five rebounds, two assists and four steals in 22 minutes off the bench. Fellow newcomer Zyan Collins South Riding, Va./Freedom) finished with eight points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes on Saturday.
 
Both teams struggled from the field in the opening minutes of the first half, as the Vulcans held a 6-0 lead at the 14:54-mark. Cal U mounted a 15-5 run to extend the lead after shooting three-of-five from the field and adding seven points from the charity stripe, 21-5. The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 24-11 by scoring six of the next nine points before going on an 11-4 run to close the gap to 28-22 after making three-of-five from long range. Notre Dame would get within a possession of the lead before MacAdams knocked down a three-pointer to put the Vulcans ahead 33-28. Lee would tally three more points before Cal U took a 36-30 advantage into halftime.
 
The Falcons registered a 7-2 run in the initial three minutes of the second half to trail by one point, while the Vulcans shot one-of-three from the field. Notre Dame took its first lead of the game at the 14:32-mark before Collins made a layup to tie the contest at 42-42. The Falcons built a 13-4 run midway through the half, while Cal U made two baskets during the span of six-plus minutes. The Vulcans notched two layups to stop the run before Notre Dame shot three-of-four from the floor, including two from beyond the arc, to extend the lead to 68-53. Cal U answered back with a short run, but a steal in the closing minute sealed the victory for Notre Dame, 73-61.
 
The Vulcans made 36.2 percent (21-of-58) from the floor and converted 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) from the free-throw line in the contest. Meanwhile, the Falcons finished the game shooting 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the field and made 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) from beyond the arc. Notre Dame held a significant 53-34 rebound advantage that led to 17 second-chance points and added totaled 24 points in the paint.

Sophomore Halil Parks led all players with 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 36 minutes. Redshirt senior Will Vorhees, a preseason All-American, posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while adding three assists and three blocks in 40 minutes of play. Freshmen Isaiah Sanders posted 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes of action.
 
Cal U return to action on Saturday, Nov. 17, when it begins a three-game homestand with a non-conference contest against Shippensburg at 2 p.m.