WHEELING, W.Va. (Dec. 1) – The No. 10 California (PA) men's basketball team held a double-digit lead with just under five minutes left in regulation before dropping an 89-83 overtime contest at Wheeling in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.
NOTES
• The Vulcans (6-3), which were playing most of the game without four starters due to injuries, have suffered three-consecutive losses after losing only five games all of last season.
• Cal lost its first overtime contest since Feb. 13, 2019, previously won three-straight overtime games.
• Senior
Kadyn Hannah led the team with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, on Sunday.
• He also added five rebounds, one block and one steal against the Cardinals.
• Sophomore
Eli Brooks tallied 16 points, six rebounds (three offensive) and three assists in 16 minutes off the bench – all career highs.
• Freshman
Jordyn Buchanan posted 14 points and four rebounds, while classmate
Keondre DeShields collected 12 points, two rebounds and two assists.
• Junior
Donald Whitehead, Jr. – the team's leader in points, assists, steals and minutes – managed three points while playing just 13 minutes due to injury.
• Wheeling scored 10-straight points early in the first half to build a 14-4 lead with 12:16 left before the break.
• The Vulcans later responded by making 9-of-11 shots over five-plus minutes to claim a 44-41 halftime lead.
• Cal registered 12-unanswered points early in the second half to stretch the lead to double-digits, 61-49, at the 11:07-mark.
• The Cardinals mounted a furious 17-4 run over the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime with the score tied at 77-77.
• The teams went nearly two minutes without scoring in overtime before Wheeling mounted a 10-2 rally to take an 87-81 lead with 15 seconds remaining.
• The Vulcans shot nearly 50 percent in the first half before going a combined 11-of-47 from the floor (23.4 percent) over the final 25 minutes.
• Cal finished with 20 offensive rebounds and committed only 10 turnovers in the contest.
NEXT
• The Vulcans return to PSAC Crossover play this weekend with a road trip, starting on Friday, Dec. 6, at West Chester with tip-off at 5 p.m.
