Men defeat Mansfield 91-65

By Joshua Laska - Sports/Managing Editor

The Vulcan men’s basketball team opened up the brand new California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center with a win and a loss. The Vulcans were able to defeat Mansfield 91-65, they then lost to Bloomsburg 71-65 the next day for their first loss of the season. The Vulcans are now 5-1 on the season and 3-1 in the PSAC.

Against Mansfield senior forward Steve Swiech led the team with 18 points.  Senior guard Chad Tipton and Junior guard Travon Vann both contributed 14 points for the Vulcans. Tipton was one for seven from behind the three-point line and Vann was one for one from behind the line. Sophomore forward Chris Williams added 12 points for the Vulcans behind six for seven from the free-throw line.

Freshman forward Shannon Williams post a season high eight points in the victory over Mansfield.  Senior guard CJ Townes, freshman forward Jeremy Posey and senior guard Freddy Appiah added seven, six and four points, respectively.  Freshman guard Tynell Fortune added four points, while senior guard/forward Quentin Harding and junior forward Mitchell Weedon both added two points.

Chris Williams led the defensive effort stealing the ball three times from Mansfield.  Posey, Townes, Weedon and Tipton all stole the ball two times each in the victory. Posey led the blocking effort with two, while Shannon Williams, Townes and Swiech all had one each.  Tipton led the rebound effort with six (five defensive); Posey also posted six rebounds (four defensive).  Appiah and Vann dished out four assists each to help propel the Vulcans to victory.

Tipton led the Vulcans with 16 points in the loss to Bloomsburg.  Tipton led the team going three for eight behind the three-point line.  Weedon added thirteen points, while Posey and Townes both added eight points.  Vann and Chris Williams each added six points; Harding and Swiech added four more points each.

Townes led the Vulcans with three assists, while Fortune and Appiah both added two more.  Harding, Tipton and Posey led the defense each posting two steals each in the loss. Posey led the team with two blocks including one where he swatted the ball out of the air.  Weedon pulled down five rebounds (three defensive), Harding also pulled down five rebounds (three defensive).

With the loss the Vulcans looked to rebound on Dec. 6 versus Bowie State (Md.) but the game ended after press time. The Vulcans return to PSAC action today at Kutztown at 4 p.m. They then travel to take on East Stroudsburg tomorrow at 4 p.m. Check the Cal Times for an update on their action after the New Year.