Bloomsburg University Loses in Men's Basketball

CALIFORNIA, PA--The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team lost to California (PA), 71-61, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) cross-over game Sunday afternoon.

Bloomsburg jumped out to an early 11-2 lead on the strength of five points from Jeremiah Long (New Columbia/Mifflinburg). The Vulcans rallied and went in front by six points, 26-20, with 6:03 to play in the opening 20 minutes on a three-point play by Ron Banks. Bloomsburg, though, closed out the half with four points from Matt Jefferson (Philadelphia/George Washington) and a bucket each from Marko Vucajnk (Slovenia) and Drew Jerry (Philadelphia/Olney) to lead 28-27 at the break.

In the second half, the team's traded leads for the first ten minutes of play with neither team opening more than a three-point advantage. Later, with the Huskies clinging to a two-point lead, 44-42, the Vulcans used a 10-3 run to go out in front by five, 52-47, with 6:46 to play. But, with less than three and a half minutes to play and California in front by eight, Mike Cheatle (Lower Gwynedd/Hatboro-Horsham) hit a three-pointer to get the Huskies back to within five at 59-54. However, that would be as close as Bloomsburg would get as the Vulcans outscored the Huskies 12-7 in the final minutes to win by 10.

California, 9-3, got 19 points from Kelvin Green and 12 more from John Owens.

Bloomsburg, 6-4, was led by 20 points from Jefferson, while Billy Bryan (Denver, PA/Reading Holy Name) added eight points and 11 rebounds. The Huskies host Cheyney on Wednesday night at the Nelson Field House starting at 7:30 p.m.