CALIFORNIA (Dec. 18) – Behind a career-high 36 points from sophomore
Keith Palek III (Woodbine, N.J./St. Augustine Prep), the Vulcans won 94-72 at home against Bloomsburg in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action on Sunday afternoon in the Convocation Center.
With the win, the California (PA) men's basketball team extends its winning streak to four games versus Bloomsburg and advance to 4-5 overall with a 1-2 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Huskies drop to 0-7 behind a 0-3 record in league competition under first-year head coach Chris Bess.
Palek recorded his first career 30-point game with 36 points while shooting 11-of-17 from the field and connecting on four-of-five attempts from beyond the arc. Additionally, the 6-foot-8 sophomore registered three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Palek is currently averaging 20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting at a .491 clip (57-for-116) this season.
Redshirt junior
Jermaine Hall, Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Severn School) scored 18 points on 8-of-13 from the floor with a season-high 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the year, in addition to tying a career-high five assists with a career-best five steals. Sophomore
Cam Polak (West Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) posted 16 points and a career-high seven rebounds. Freshman
KJ McClurg (Morgantown, W.Va./University) collected eight points, five rebounds and four assists in the victory.
The teams traded the initial 10 points of the game until Cal registered the following five points to take a 10-5 lead. The Vulcans continued to mount momentum as they stretched the lead to 19-8 after a 9-3 run. Cal maintained its double-digit lead with back-and-forth scoring, as it led by a 32-22 margin. The Huskies trimmed the deficit to six following consecutive baskets with 7:54 remaining in the first half. Bloomsburg cut the margin to 37-35 after conducting a 9-5 run with 2:12 left in the first. Cal ended the first half on 9-0 run to take a 46-35 advantage at the break.
The Vulcans proceeded to pressure the Huskies by starting the second half on a 9-4 run that extended the lead to 55-39. Cal scored seven of the next 10 points to regain a 20-point advantage. Over the next two minutes, both teams split 16 points, as the Vulcans led by a 70-50 margin with 10:41 left to play. Bloomsburg orchestrated a 7-6 run with 7:19 remaining in the game to trim the Cal advantage to 76-57. The Vulcans were able to grasp momentum once again as they executed a 10-5 run after layup from Palek. In the closing minutes, Cal held the Huskies at bay to secure the victory.
The Vulcans shot 50.0 percent (33-of-66) from the field while making a 42.3 clip (11-of-26) from beyond the arc. Bloomsburg shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the field and made 32.0 percent (8-of-25) from long range. The Huskies held a 39-35 rebound advantage, however they only tallied eight assists.
Matt Bengel set a career-best 25 points in addition to eight rebounds. Desmond Freeman scored 16 points with three rebounds and three assists. Cam Villarouel registered 13 points and a trio of rebounds, while Jake Nelson chipped in with nine points and nine rebounds.
Cal returns to action tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 19, as it hosts East Stroudsburg in PSAC Crossover play at 3 p.m.
