EDINBORO, Pa. (Feb. 3) – Despite a 30-point performance by junior
Jahmere Howze (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) on Saturday afternoon, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team was defeated 79-63 at Edinboro in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the loss, the Vulcans dropped to 9-13 this season with a 5-11 record in league action. Cal U remains in seventh place in the divisional standings and 2.5-games behind Mercyhurst (plays later on Saturday) for the final playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots improve to 13-7 overall behind a 10-6 mark in conference play.
Howze finished with 30 points on 10-of-18 attempts, converting a season-high five three-pointers. He collected seven rebounds (three offensive) while playing 29 minutes on Saturday. Howze has totaled at least 20 points in five of the last nine games and now leads the team in scoring this season with 17.4 points per game.
Senior
Cordell Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) tallied 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting and added four rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes, while classmate
Isaiah Lewis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) recorded seven points and two rebounds off the bench against the Fighting Scots.
Cal U opened the contest with a layup by Smith before Edinboro sprinted out to a 17-6 lead with 14:10 left in the first half. The Vulcans responded with five-straight points to cut the deficit to 17-11, but the Fighting Scots were quick to answer with a pair of three-pointers. Howze scored 10-straight points over three-plus minutes to trim the deficit to 30-25, as Cal U held Edinboro to one-of-seven from the floor during that span. The Fighting Scots took a 46-27 advantage into the break following a 16-2 run in the final five minutes.
The Vulcans scored the initial eight points of the second half before Smith tallied an additional eight points to cut the lead to two possessions with 11:58 remaining. Edinboro countered with 10-unanswered points in three minutes to reclaim a comfortable 63-48 lead. The Vulcans never managed to trim the deficit below double-figures in the final 11 minutes before the Fightiing Scots claimed a 79-63 victory.
The Vulcans finished the game with a .343 field-goal percentage (23-of-67) and converted 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots shot 40.0 percent (28-of-70) from the floor and made 10-of-28 attempts (35.7 percent) from long range. Edinboro held a 47-42 rebounding advantage, while Cal U totaled 15 second-chance points.
Senior guard Keshawn Liggins, the leading scorer in the PSAC, finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists while playing all 40 minutes. Junior Anthony Coleman scored 15 points on 6-of-12 attempts and collected seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in 26 minutes, while teammate Jaymon Mason tallied 10 points, nine rebounds (five offensive) and four assists in 37 minutes.
The Vulcans continue their road trip on Wednesday, Feb. 7, when they face Gannon in PSAC West action at 7:30 p.m.
