CALIFORNIA (Feb. 19) – All five starters scored in double-digits, including sophomore
Philip Alston (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville North) recording his 12th 20-point game of the season, on Saturday afternoon, as the Vulcans cruised to a 90-60 victory over Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team improves to 19-6 this season behind a 14-5 mark in conference action. The Vulcans have scored at least 90 points in seven games this season. Meanwhile, Clarion falls to 9-16 overall behind a 5-15 record in league play.
Alston posted his league-leading 14th double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds. He finished 11-of-13 from the field while collecting two assists and two blocks. Alston also surpassed the 500-point milestone this season, marking the first time since the 1991-96 campaigns in which the program has featured a 500-point scorer in consecutive seasons.
Junior
Zyan Collins (South Riding, Va./Freedom) finished with 14 points on five-of-eight shooting from the floor and collected four assists in 23 minutes of action. Senior
Preston Boswell (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) registered 12 points and four assists, while classmate
Brent Pegram (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists on Saturday. Freshman
Keith Palek III (Woodbine, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) collected 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the victory.
Cal U opened the contest by scoring seven-straight points before extending its lead with an 8-6 run to hold a 15-6 advantage at the 17:06-mark. The Vulcans then mounted an 11-8 run, including seven points from Alston, to hold a 26-14 lead. Clarion rallied by scoring seven of the next 12 points to trim the deficit to 31-21 with 7:09 remaining in the first half. After a jumper by Collins, Cal U scored six of the next eight points to stretch its lead to 39-23. The Vulcans ended the first half with a 6-3 run to lead 45-26 at the break.
The teams opened the second half by trading the initial 12 points before Cal U scored eight of 10 points, led by Pegram, to push its lead to 59-34 with 14:13 remaining. Over the next three minutes, the Vulcans mounted a 13-5 run after shooting four-of-five from the floor to extend their lead to 72-39. Clarion trimmed the deficit before Cal U scored eight of the next 12 points to push its lead to 86-50 with 4:17 remaining. The Golden Eagles scored 10 of the final 14 points to end the game.
The Vulcans posted a .470 field-goal percentage (34-of-71) and converted 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Clarion shot 31.2 percent (24-of-77) from the field and went 6-of-28 (21.3 percent) from three-point territory. Cal U held a 47-43 rebounding advantage while tallying 19 assists.
Sophomore Gerald Jarmon paced the Golden Eagles with 20 points and five rebounds, while freshman Madior Seye recorded 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Senior Connor Ferrell finished with 11 points and three rebounds in the loss.
Cal U returns to action on Monday, Feb. 21, when it hosts Slippery Rock in league action at 7:30 p.m.
