Second half leads Cal U past Newberry, 79-70

SALEM, W.Va. (Dec. 10) – Junior guard Freddy Appiah (Toronto, Ontario/Ascension of Our Lord) scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half and the team shot over 72 percent in the second half on Friday afternoon, as the Vulcans posted a 79-70 win against Newberry (S.C.) in the 29th-annual Joe Manchin Tournament hosted by Salem International.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team extended its win streak to three games to improve to 4-1 overall this season. Meanwhile, Newberry drops to 3-4 this year.

Sophomore guard Quentin Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds against the Wolves. The former McKeesport shot 7-of-13 from the floor and is shooting 48.3 percent (29-of-60) for the season. He also tallied two assists, three steals and two blocks on Friday.

Senior forward Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) and Appiah each added 14 points and combined for 10 steals. Juniors John Williams (Baltimore, Md./Mervo) and Chad Tipton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) both contributed eight points, while guards Ryne Niemiec (Brownsville, Pa./Beth-Center) and Joe Berenato (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) each tallied five assists.

With the score tied at halftime, the teams combined for seven lead changes and four ties in the second half. Trailing 59-56 with 7:00 remaining, Cal scored 11-unanswered points over two minutes to claim a 67-59 lead on a fastbreak lay-up by Harding. The Wolves cut the deficit to four points, 67-63, before the Vulcans responded with a 10-3 run to take a 75-66 advantage with 53 seconds left on another lay-up by Harding. Cal U made all four of its free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

After shooting over 70 percent in the second half, Cal U finished the game shooting at a 56.0 clip (28-of-50) from the field. The Vulcans also made an impressive 80.0 percent (20-of-25) from the free-throw line, their best mark since last season. Meanwhile, the Wolves shot 38.0 percent (27-of-71) from the floor and just 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the charity stripe.

In the victory, the Vulcans committed a season-high 32 turnovers and were out-rebounded by a 40-33 margin. Cal U also registered a season-best 20 steals and recorded 16 assists on 28 field-goals.

Junior forward Chris Reynolds led Newberry with 12 points, while sophomore guard Coleman Young added 11 points off the bench.

Cal U returns to action at the Manchin Tournament tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 11, when it faces the host Tigers at 3 p.m.