CALIFORNIA (Nov. 16) – Sophomore Philip Alston (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville North) and senior Brent Pegram (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) both scored over 30 points and recorded a double-double on Tuesday evening, as the Vulcans rolled to a 104-84 victory against Franklin Pierce (N.H.) at the Convocation Center in non-conference play.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team opens the year at 3-0 this season after scoring over 90 points in each contest. The Vulcans have started the season with three-consecutive victories for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Meanwhile, the Ravens drop 1-2 this season after playing all three games in Pennsylvania.

Alston scored a career-high 37 points on 16-of-21 shooting and five-of-nine from the free-throw line. He also totaled a career-high 10 rebounds (five offensive) for his first career double-double while playing 35 minutes. As a freshman two years ago, Alston finished with a total 70 points over 18 games as a reserve.

Pegram finished with 34 points after going 12-of-19 from the floor, including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. He tied his career high of 11 rebounds while recording the second double-double of his career. A two-time All-PSAC West selection, Pegram has now scored at least 30 points nine times in his career.

The Vulcans boasted multiple 30-point scorers in the same game since at least the 1996-97 season. Additionally, the 37 points by Alston are the most since Jahmere Howze scored 44 points against Glenville State on Nov. 12, 2017 and ranks as the third-most points in a game since the 1996-97 campaign.

Freshman forward Bryson Lucas (Clarksburg, W.Va./Robert C. Byrd) added 15 points on seven-of-eight shooting with three dunks. He also collected six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and four steals while playing 19 minutes off the bench. Fellow freshman Keith Palek III (Woodbine, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) tallied five points and eight rebounds in the victory, while senior guard Preston Boswell (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) led the team with six assists.

Franklin Pierce opened the game on an 11-4 run before Cal U responded with a 14-4 rally behind a combined 12 points by Pegram and Boswell to claim an 18-15 lead with 12:56 left in the first half. The Ravens scored six of the next seven points before the Vulcans answered with a 14-3 run over three minutes to take a 33-24 lead on a jumper by Pegram with 8:06 remaining before halftime. Cal U stretched the lead to 11 points, 44-33, following back-to-back baskets from Lucas at the 4:10-mark. The Ravens then closed the first half on a 12-6 run to cut the deficit to 50-45 at the break.

The Vulcans started the second half with a dunk by Alston and stretched the lead to 59-50 with 16:06 left to play. Midway through the half, Cal U seized control of the game with a 21-4 run behind a combined 16 points by Alston and Pegram over nearly five minutes to take an 82-59 lead with 8:56 remaining. The Vulcans stretched the lead to as many as 29 points, 95-66, on a three-point play by Alston at the 5:59-mark before the Ravens scored nine-straight points.

Cal U shot nearly 70 percent in the second half and finished the game with a .600 field-goal percentage (42-of-70). The Vulcans also made 11-of-28 attempts (39.3 percent) from long range in the victory. Meanwhile, the Ravens shot at a 40.3 clip (31-of-77) from the floor and converted 12-of-38 attempts (31.6 percent) from three-point territory. Cal U held a 44-33 rebounding advantage and scored nearly 50 points inside the paint.

Freshman Mohamed Traore scored a team-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including five-of-seven from beyond the arc. Junior Isaiah Moore posted 14 points and four assists while battling foul trouble and sophomore Sean Bresnan finished with nine points, eight rebounds and five steals in the losing effort.

The Vulcans return to action on Thursday, Nov. 18, when they host preseason No. 22 and defending-MEC Champion Fairmont State at the Convocation Center, starting at 7:30 p.m.