Small college basketball: Cal outlasts Mercyhurst in overtime
The California University men’s basketball team scored eight of the first nine points in overtime and held on late to defeat Mercyhurst 73-71 in a PSAC West Divison game Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
The Vulcans extended the game into overtime after trailing by three points, 61-58, when Mercyhurt’s Malcom Walters made one of two from the foul line with five seconds remaining.
Cal’s Terry Davis Jr. pulled down the rebound on Walters’ missed free throw and made a three-pointer with one second left in regulation to tie the game, 61-61.
The last-second shot gave the Vulcans all of the momentum to start the overtime period as they jumped out to a 68-62 lead when Cordell Smith made his only shot of the game, a three-pointer with 1:08 remaining.
Senior guard Isaiah Lewis paced four players for Cal, 6-13 in PSAC play and 10-15 overall, to reach double digits. Lewis scored 18 points. Jahmere Howze and Robel Teckle chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Davis Jr. finished with 16 points.
Mercyhurst, which dropped to 9-10 in the PSAC and 12-11 overall, quickly cut the overtime deficit with a 7-3 run in under a minute before a turnover on its final possession ended the game.
The Lakers were led by Walters’ game-high 19 points.
Women’s result
Cal 60, Mercyhurst 50: Shatara Parsons scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter as No. 21 California avenged a mid-January loss to Mercyhurst and defeat the Lakers, 60-50.
The Vulcans pulled away in the third quarter behind the play of Parsons, outscoring Mercyhurst 19-9 in the frame to take a 44-35 lead into the fourth.
Parsons also tied for the team lead with five rebounds and had three assists.
Cal improved to 20-4 and 15-3 in PSAC play with the victory despite only converting on 2 of 10 three-pointers and making 8 of 17 free throws.
The Vulcans were able to take advantage of turnovers, scoring 38 points of takeaways to Mercyhurst’s nine.
Mercyhurst falls to 9-15 overall and 7-11 in the PSAC was paced by Emilee Norris and Jamaya Shabazz, each finishing with 10 points.
The only other player to score in double figures for the Vulcans, who were slotted sixth in the initial NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released Wednesday afternoon, was DJ Hahn with 11 points.