West Chester hands Vulcans first loss
CALIFORNIA – Junior guard Elijah Allen scored a game-high 34 points and made seven of West Chester’s 16 three-point field goals as the Rams defeated previously unbeaten California 100-97 Wednesday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
California (5-1, 11-1) had been off to its best start possibly in program history. According to Vulcans sports information director Matt Kifer, Cal didn’t have an 11-0 start in the last 40 years.
West Chester (5-1, 8-4) made 16 of 31 three-pointers and erased a nine-point California lead in the final 10 minutes.
Guard Robert Smith added 22 points, including three baskets from long range, for West Chester. The Rams used their long-range shooting to overcome a big advantage California had at the free-throw line. The Vulcans were 17-for-23 at the stripe while West Chester converted 12 of 18 free throws.
The game was close throughout, though Cal led 43-40 at halftime and opened up a 66-57 advantage with 10:43 remaining.
West Chester rallied and erased the Cal lead, but the Vulcans took a 97-96 advantage on a tip-in by Jermaine Hall with 48 seconds remaining. West Chester, however, used a layup by Jordan Kellier to regain the lead at 98-97 and a free throw by Allen that made it a two-point game in the closing seconds.
From a statistical standpoint, Cal had plenty of numbers that would suggest a victory. The Vulcans shot 53 percent from the field and made 12 of 26 three-point attempts.
K.J. McClurg led Cal in scoring with 26 points and Donald Whitehead added 20. Both players made four three-pointers. Hall and Zyan Collins each tallied 18 points.
The Vulcans won’t have much time to dwell on their initial loss. They host Gannon at 3 p.m. Saturday. Gannon took a 10-1 record into its game Wednesday night against Mansfield.