Box Score
INDIANA, PA – Shooting just 27.27 percent from the floor in the first half, the IUP men's basketball team was unable to mount a comeback and fell in their second straight game to California 59-56.

Facing their largest halftime deficit of the season, down by seven, the Crimson Hawks pushed the game to the final seconds of play but ultimately fell victim to the Vulcans.

Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) led the way for the Crimson Hawks, scoring 20 points. He was one of three players to finish the game in double figures, with Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) and Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) each adding 11.

IUP was hot early, getting up by as much as five in the first few minutes of play. The tides turned, however, when Arman Marks sunk a three for the Vulcans, sending them on a 14-6 run that would give them the seven-point advantage.

The two teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes of play but IUP headed into the break trailing by seven.

The Crimson Hawks came out strong to start the second half, pulling within one with 17:30 to play. California, however, gained momentum and was able to get up by as much as 13 with just over four minutes to play.

That's when the IUP offense came alive, going on a 11-3 run and pulling within three with just 45 seconds to play.

California's Drew Cook sunk one of two free throws to give the Vulcans the four-point advantage but Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) added a layup to again cut the lead to two. With nine seconds to play Marks came up big for the Vulcans, sinking a free throw and giving California a three point lead.

The Crimson Hawks were able to get possession of the ball for one last drive, but Souberbielle couldn't connect on a last second three, and the Vulcans claimed just their eighth win of the season.

With the loss the Crimson Hawks fall to 14-2, 4-2 on the season and increase their losing streak to two. They fall to third place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West, just behind Slippery Rock and Gannon.

Keita finished with a team-high 20 points, adding six rebounds and three assists. Souberbielle recorded 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.

Chance added 11 points, two rebounds, five assists and five steals.

On the game, IUP shot just 37.7 percent from the field, going 27.27 percent in the first half and 45.16 percent in the second. They shot 31.3 percent from behind the arc with Keita and Chance registering the team's only three pointers of the game.

The loss was the first home defeat since falling to Gannon on Febuary 6, 2013.

IUP will hit the road, traveling to Edinboro to take on the Fighting Scots Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Edinboro enters with a record of 7-9, 0-6, in last place in the PSAC West. As a team, they average 75.5 points per game and are surrendering 75.2.

The Crimson Hawks will return home January 25 to host rival Slippery Rock in a Saturday night matchup at the KCAC.