CALIFORNIA (Jan. 4) – Led by six players scoring in double figures, the California (PA) men's basketball team earned an 86-68 victory over Clarion to open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 5-7 overall with a 2-4 mark in conference play. Cal has now recorded five-straight wins in the series against Clarion. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 2-10 behind a 0-6 record in league competition under fourth-year head coach Damian Pitts.
Cal was led by redshirt junior
Jermaine Hall, Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Severn School) who scored 17 points while going 8-for-14 from the field in addition to recording three rebounds, one steal and one assist. The Baltimore native is averaging 17.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game with a .516 shooting percentage.
Sophomore
Keith Palek III (Woodbine, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) tallied 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds, three assists and one steal. Sophomore
Cam Polak (West Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) posted 13 points, six assists and five rebounds, while redshirt freshman
Donald Whitehead, Jr. (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) notched 12 points, six assists and three rebounds. Sophomore
Kadyn Hannah (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench and freshman
KJ McClurg (Morgantown, W.Va./University) finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals.
The opening seven minutes featured six lead changes as the Vulcans held a 7-6 lead following a layup from Palek. The Golden Eagles were able to tie the game at 11-11 after conducting a 5-4 run with 9:46 left in the first half. Cal mounted momentum as it scored three-consecutive baskets to claim a 17-11 advantage at the 7:26-mark. The Vulcans executed a 10-5 rally after Hall converted an and-one opportunity to grasp a double-digit lead with less than five minutes to play in the first half. Cal finished the half with momentum well in hand following a 14-6 run as it led by a 40-22 margin at the break.
The Golden Eagles orchestrated a 10-2 rally in the initial minutes of the second half as they cut the deficit to 42-32 with 16:34 to play. The Vulcans maintained their double-digit advantage as the teams split the next 12 points. Cal extended its advantage to 62-45 after a fastbreak layup from Hannah that completed a 14-7 rally at the 8:58-mark. The Vulcans registered their largest lead of the night after a long-range connection from Palek stretched the margin to 78-54.
The Vulcans shot 52.4 percent (33-of-63) from the field while going 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles recorded a .375 field-goal percentage (24-of-64) from the field and connected on 26.1 percent (6-of-23) of their three-point attempts. Cal held a 39-33 rebound advantage while Clarion was limited to eight assists.
Cam Kearney led the Golden Eagles with 18 points and added six rebounds and two assists. Mekhi Reynolds recorded 13 points, two rebounds and a pair of steals, while Steve Kelly registered 10 points and three assists.
The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Jan. 7, as they travel to face Slippery Rock in PSAC West action at 3 p.m.
