CALIFORNIA (Feb. 12) – All five starters scored in double-digits with junior
Zyan Collins (South Riding, Va./Freedom) recording a double-double on Saturday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team rolled to an 88-62 victory over Edinboro in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 16-6 this year behind an 11-5 record in league play. Cal U has swept the season series with Edinboro in back-to-back seasons for the first time in over two decades. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots fall to 7-14 overall with a 5-11 mark in conference action.
Collins posted his second double-double of the season, and fifth of his career, on Saturday. He totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds (four offensive), plus added six assists, one block and two steals, against Edinboro. Collins has collected a season-high six assists five times this year.
Senior
Preston Boswell (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) scored a team-high 15 points behind three-of-five from beyond the arc. He also posted four rebounds and two assists while playing just 25 minutes. Classmate
Brent Pegram (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) finished with 14 points on five-of-eight shooting, four rebounds and six assists in 24 minutes on Saturday. Freshman
Keith Palek III (Woodbine, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) registered 12 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore
Philip Alston (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville North) collected 10 points and six rebounds in the victory. Freshman
Bryson Lucas (Clarksburg, W.Va./Robert C. Byrd) added nine points, nine rebounds and two assists off the bench.
Edinboro scored the opening basket of the contest before Cal U rallied off a 14-3 run to take a 14-5 lead at the 15:50-mark. The Vulcans then mounted a 19-2 rally, including seven points by Boswell, over nearly seven minutes to stretch the lead to 33-9 with 7:49 left in the first half. Edinboro scored seven of the next nine points before Cal U registered 12-unanswered points to take a 47-16 lead on a three-pointer by Palek with 1:05 remaining in the half. The Fighting Scots scored the final basket of the first half, as the Vulcans held a 47-18 lead at the break. Edinboro was held to just 3-of-20 from the floor, including one-of-eight from long range, to start the game.
The Vulcans opened the second half on a 10-5 run to extend the lead to 57-23 on a three-pointer by Boswell at the 15:52-mark. Cal U later scored seven of nine points to take its largest lead of the game at 37 points, 69-32, on a jumper by Pegram with 11:33 left to play. The Fighting Scots scored nine of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to 70-41, however, the Vulcans maintained a lead of at least 26 points for the remainder of the contest.
Cal U shot nearly 55 percent in the first half before finishing the game with a .403 field-goal percentage (29-of-72). The Vulcans set a season high with 13 three-pointers and converted 17-of-20 (85.0 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Edinboro was held to a .310 field-goal percentage (22-of-71). The Vulcans finished with a sizeable 62-35 rebounding advantage behind 18 offensive rebounds that led to 27 second-chance points.
Edinboro senior Deontae Robertson led the team with 12 points while shooting just 4-of-15 from the floor. He also collected a team-high 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the year. Junior Jack Gallagher posted nine points and five assists off the bench, while sophomore Bryce Spriggs totaled eight points and six rebounds.
The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Monday, Feb. 14, when they travel to face Pitt-Johnstown at 7:30 p.m.
