Injuries, losses mounting for Vulcans
After a promising start, this men’s basketball season at California has become painful as the injuries have mounted at an unthinkable rate.
When Cal played Friday at West Chester, the Vulcans had only one player, Cam Polak, who started the season opener available, the result of a myriad of injuries that have struck the Vulcans.
Cal’s patchwork lineup held strong into the second half against West Chester before the Rams pulled away for a 77-60 victory in a PSAC game.
After starting the season with six consecutive wins, Cal has lost four straight. The Vulcans are 1-2 in PSAC play. West Chester is 3-0, 6-2. The Rams have won six in a row.
The Vulcans led 37-31 at halftime but West Chester used a 18-4 run in the second half to open a 70-52 lead.
Keondre DeShields paced Cal with 18 points. Duncan Moy scored 13 and Polak had 10.
West Chester, which had five players score in double figures, was led by Elijah Allen’s 20.
Women’s result
West Chester 75, California 64
Ava Mazur scored 21 points and West Chester pulled away in the closing minutes for a 75-64 victory over visiting California in a PSAC game.
West Chester (1-2, 3-5) led 33-25 at halftime. Cal (1-2, 4-5) used a 26-point third quarter to force a 51-51 tie heading into the final period. West Chester led 63-60 with 3:51 remaining, then the Rams went on a 10-0 run to build a double-digit lead.
Cal had four players score in double figures, led by Alivia Huffman and Trinity Balog with 15 points each. Alicia Young followed with 14 points and Talia Gilliard had 10.
The Vulcans hurt their cause by making only 12 of 21 free throws.