JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Feb. 5) – Despite four players scoring in double-figures, the Vulcans fell by a 103-94 margin at Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team drops to 15-7 this season with an 11-5 mark in league play. The Vulcans now sit in a tie for third place in the divisional standings after the Mountain Cats claimed their fifth-straight win in the series. Meanwhile, Pitt-Johnstown improves to 18-5 overall behind a 12-4 record in conference action.
Junior
Brent Pegram (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) scored 21 second-half points and finished with a game-high 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting with six three-pointers. The Maryland native also added eight assists and four steals in 33 minutes. Pegram continues a stellar season with his ninth game of at least 20 points, while ranking second in the PSAC with 20.1 points per game.
Sophomore
Jermaine Hall, Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Severn School) totaled 19 points on 7-of-15 attempts, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. He also collected seven rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. Hall is averaging 14.0 points and 7.8 rebounds over the last five games.
Freshman
Luke House (Norristown, Pa./Archbishop John Carroll) registered 16 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes of action, while classmate
Tim Smith, Jr. (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) posted 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting and added five rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. Sophomore
Zyan Collins (South Riding, Va./Freedom) recorded nine points, seven assists and two rebounds in 39 minutes on Wednesday.
Both teams traded baskets in the opening five minutes of the contest, as UPJ held a 14-13 lead after converting three-straight three-pointers. Cal U countered with a 9-1 rally behind a trio of three-pointers to take a 22-15 lead at the 12:48-mark, but the Mountain Cats answered quickly with another trey. The Vulcans then tallied seven-unanswered points to hold a 29-18 advantage before both teams exchanged points over the next six minutes. UPJ would respond with an 18-2 run over the final three-plus minutes of the half and held Cal U scoreless during that stretch to take a 52-43 lead into the break.
The Mountain Cats started the second half with a 12-3 run to extend the lead to 64-46, but the Vulcans answered by scoring seven of the next nine points to trim the deficit to 66-53 at the 14:20-mark. UPJ continued to hold a commanding lead over the next six-plus minutes before Cal U went on a 13-4 rally behind four-of-six shooting to close the gap to 87-82 with just over five minutes remaining. The Mountain Cats held a five-point lead in the final 2:25 of the contest before scoring five-consecutive points to take a 99-89 advantage and seal the game.
The Vulcans finished the game with a .405 field-goal percentage (30-of-74) and made 17-of-44 (38.6 percent) from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats shot 52.6 percent (30-of-57) from the floor and converted 30-of-37 (81.1 percent) from the free-throw line. Pitt-Johnstown finished with a 40-34 rebounding advantage and scored 28 points in the paint, while Cal U tallied 19 points off turnovers.
UPJ featured three players posting a double-double, led by senior Josh Wise with 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes. Sophomore John Paul Kromka finished with 15 points behind 11-of-12 from the free-throw line and added 11 rebounds, five blocks and two steals in 32 minutes. Teammate Caiden Landis totaled 15 points on six-of-eight shooting, plus 10 rebounds and four assists, in 35 minutes.
Cal U is idle over the weekend before returning to PSAC West action on Wednesday, Feb. 12, to host division-leading IUP in the Convocation Center at 7:30 p.m.
