Feb 23, 2019 3 min read

CALIFORNIA – Indiana, the second-ranked men’s basketball team in NCAA Division II, fought off a valiant effort by California, 65-60, Saturday afternoon to inch closer to the PSAC West Division title.

With only eight players in uniform, the youthful Vulcans (5-14, 7-18) scratched and clawed and gave the Crimson Hawks (16-2, 23-2) all they could handle on Senior Day.

“We played hard today, and while I am not into moral victories, that is the No. 2 team in the country and the best team in our league,” said first-year Cal coach Danny Sancomb. “I hate losing but I am happy with how our team played today.”

IUP took control of the game six minutes in. The Crimson Hawks went on a 10-2 run to take a 19-10 lead and opened their biggest lead of the game at 30-20 with 3:19 to go before intermission.

Down 34-26 to start the second half, the Vulcans played with fire and went on a 12-2 run to take a 38-36 lead after a Cordell Smith three-pointer.

The lead was Cal’s first since a 5-4 advantage with 16:45 to play in the first half.

Cal’s last lead would be at the 14:12 mark, 41-40, when Zyan Collins made a three-pointer, but the Vulcans would stay within striking distance the rest of the game.

Cal would get as close as two points, 57-55, with 2:08 to go after a Smith three-pointer, but the Vulcans ran out of time.

Smith, the lone senior on the team, saw his first game action of the season after returning from an injury and he said he was motivated to play on Senior Day.

“It was definitely a goal of mine and I just started practicing last week, on Monday,” he said. “I felt fine and have just been doing rehab.

“I’m just excited to be out there with them young guys as they are a good group of guys and they are going to go far. Coach is a great coach and once they get the pieces they are missing, they will be really good.”

Sancomb spoke about the impression Smith has made on him in their short time together.

“He tore his Achilles in the summer, and when you only have a kid for one year, it is hard to get to know him, but you couldn’t ask for a better one-year player when you are starting a program,” he said. “He is a good person, a heck of a basketball player and has been committed.

“I am happy to see him get out there on Senior Day and he hit a few shots while a few others were halfway down.”

Collins led Cal with 25 points. Collin MacAdams led with nine rebounds and Brent Pegram had six assists. Dante Lombardi led three IUP players in double figures with 20 points.