Feb 7, 2015 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – Each time the ball went through the hoop, it seemed a different player was being added to the scoresheet.

In their 90-70 win over Clarion Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center, California University had six players reach double figures as the Vulcans snapped a four-game PSAC West losing streak.

“I thought it was real balanced,” Vulcans head coach Bill Brown said. “We did it only shooting six 3-pointers. I thought because we got the ball inside, it allowed us to play inside out and that utilized our advantage, which is our size.

“It just keeps us breathing until the next game. We are going to try and play them one game at a time. The next game is our most important game. We need to continue to have good practices and get back at it.”

The Vulcans scored early and often as they jumped to a 19-5 advantage by going to their strength down low. Cal (9-9, 13-10) held a 54-22 advantage in the paint. As a result, the Vulcans shot 56.7 percent from the field.

“It was hard to overcome a 19-5 deficit,” Clarion head coach Marcess Williams said. “It is one thing to come back from five or six, but when you are down 11 or 12 points, it is difficult. We knew they were going to come out ready to go. We just couldn’t hit our shots early. We had seven field goals in the first half. You aren’t going to win too many games on the road doing that.”

Brown felt turnovers played a role in the win.

“Last time we played these guys we had 29 turnovers, I think,” Brown said. “I thought the guys got the ball deep and we made easy shots. We shot 56 percent so that helped.”

The closest the Golden Eagles (6-11, 8-12) got in the second half was 12 points.

Clarion shrunk the lead to seven points in the first half after switching to a full court press, but the pressure turned into easy buckets for the Vulcans.

“We really turned them over at our place using the press, and we thought we could do that same here,” Williams said. “They just hit shots and made plays. They just played well. They are in the playoff race like we are. We both needed this game. I knew they were going to come out with some extra pep in their step, and they came out and took it to us.”

The Vulcans, who hold a tight grip on the sixth and final playoff spot in the conference, knew coming in that a fifth straight loss might have put an end to their postseason opportunity.

The Golden Eagles now trail the Vulcans by 2½ games and Pitt-Johnstown is luring, too.

“Yeah, I thought it was,” Brown said when asked if this was a must-win game. “We have been close in a couple of games, and I think we are making progress. It was nice to finally get over the finish line. This time of the season you can throw a couple games together and who knows where you will be at the end.”

Leading the barrage of double figure scorers for the Vulcans was Khalil Jabbie with 16 points. Daniel Sapp had 12 and Richard Smith and Calvin Brown each chipped in with 11. Rounding out the scoring were Drew Cook and Arman Marks with 10 apiece.

The Golden Eagles were paced by BJ Andrews with 20 points. Justin Grant added 18 and Darius Stevens had 12. Clarion finished the game shooting 39 percent but couldn’t get over the rough first half.

“We struggle to score at times,” Williams said. “It is no surprise. We have had these halves before. We just sometimes struggle on the road to put the ball in the hole. It is hard to come back all the time. Kuddos to Cal. They played well. Their guards played well. They got a lot of dunks at the rim and blocked some shots. We can’t give up 90 points and expect to win.”