Bloomsburg Falls to California in Men's Basketball

CALIFORNIA (PA) —Bloomsburg University lost 77-52 to California (PA) in men's college basketball action Saturday afternoon.

California opened quickly in the game jumping out to a 14-4 lead in the first four and a half minutes of play. Cal's Mike Smelkinson scored seven of his team's first 14 points in the opening minutes.

The Huskies, though, came back behind five points from Buddy Rose (Philadelphia/Mastbaum) and a three-pointer from Andrew Jerry (Philadelphia/Olney) to close within four, 18-14, with 11:33 to play in the half. California then went on a13-2 run over the next two minutes to push its advantage to 31-16. Bloomsburg got back to within 11 points, 33-22, after a couple of free throws from Jaren Burdine (Reading/Reading) with 5:20 to play in the period before Cal finished the game on a 16-7 run.

After Cal opened the second half by stretching its lead to 18 points, the Huskies got a three-pointer from Rose, two free throws from Bob Nenstiel (Nuremburg/Weatherly) and a layup from Billy Bryan (Denver/Holy Name) to get back to within 11 points at 50-39.

But, California came back with 19-3 run over an eight minute stretch to take a 69-42 lead. The Vulcans later led by as many 29 points before finishing with a 25 point victory.

California, 9-3, was led by Boris Mesnager with 22 points, while Sharif Bray added 19 and Smelkinson 13.

Bloomsburg, 3-9, got 10 points from Buddy Rose and eight points from Andrew Jerry.

The Huskies will return to action Sunday at 3 p.m. at Shippensburg.