Second-half rally gives Cal men victory
In what was the most remarkable rally of the season, the California University men’s basketball team came from 16 points down at halftime by outscoring Seton Hill by 20 and taking a 62-58 victory Wednesday in a PSAC West Conference game.
The win was the second straight for the Vulcans (6-10, 11-15), who will play Mercyhurst in the first round of the conference tournament Saturday in Erie.
Seton Hill fell to 15-11, including 7-9 in the conference.
The Vulcans made only seven of 26 shots in the first half and trailed the Griffins, 33-17. But Cal made 15 of 22 shots in the second half and outscored the Griffins 45-25. Jake Jacubec and Tynell Fortune each scored 11 points and Arman Marks scored 17 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes to spark the rally.
Jacubec finished with 14 points and Tynell 12. Chris Williams scored five points, had 10 rebounds and added four assists.
Nate Perry led Seton Hill with 13 points, and Kam Taylor and Oliver McDade each scored 10 points.
Seton Hill 72, California 69: Paige Alviani launched a halfcourt shot at he buzzer that banked in to give Seton Hill a 72-69 victory over California in a PSAC West Division game.
Cal fell to 17-8 overall and 11-5 in the conference. The Vulcans will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming PSAC Tournament and will host Seton Hill in the opening round Saturday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the Griffins (5-11, 13-13) clinched the sixth and final spot in the league tournament for the Griffins.
Cal trialed 69-63 with 51 seconds to play but the Vulcans battled back and Emma Mahady appeared to send the game to overtime when she hit a jump shot with three seconds to play. But the inbounds pass came to Alviani and, after hesitating a moment, lofted the game-winning shot.
Mahady led three Cal players in double figures with 23 points and seven rebounds. Irina Kukolj added 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Kaitlyn Fratz scored 11 points.
Katie Gattuso had a team-high 21 points for Seton Hill, Tiara Stossel tossed in 15 and Alviani 14.
The first half seesawed with Seton Hill leading 22-15 early, but Cal rallied for a 35-34 lead at halftime.