CALIFORNIA, PA – Four IUP players scored in double-figures and the defense shut the Vulcans down as the 20th-ranked Crimson Hawks cruised past California (PA) 69-45 on Saturday night at the Convocation Center.
 
The win was the seventh consecutive for the Crimson Hawks, who improved to 14-2 overall and moved up one spot to second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with an 8-2 league record. Cal falls to 11-5 overall and 7-4 in the PSAC West.
 
IUP was on fire from three-point range, going 13-of-26 from beyond the arc with contributions from four different players. Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) made 4-of-6 from behind the line en route to his game-high 20 points while Shawn Dyer (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) made 4-of-7 and finished with 16 points.
 
The Crimson Hawks jumped on top early with a 20-0 run after Cal made the first bucket of the game. IUP held the Vulcans scoreless for nearly 10 minutes of game action, as they finally stopped the run with 9:31 on the clock as the Crimson Hawks led 20-4.
 
IUP forced Cal into eight turnovers in the game's first 10 minutes while Norfleet led the offensive end with seven early points.
 
The Vulcans cut their deficit to 13 at 27-14 with under five minutes to play, but a three-pointer by Dyer just before the half gave IUP a 32-16 advantage heading into the break.
 
Three-pointers by Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter), Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) and Norfleet to open the second half built the Crimson Hawks' lead back to 21 at 41-20 with 17:36 showing on the clock.
 
The Crimson Hawks went on to drill five more three-pointers, building a lead of 28 points down the stretch before finishing off the Vulcans by 24.
 
Cal entered the game averaging nearly 76 points per game but were held 31 points below its season average as the Crimson Hawks forced them to shoot just 16-of-47 from the field. IUP also outrebounded the Vulcans 43-to-27, with five IUP players pulling down at least five.
 
In addition to Norfleet and Dyer, Jeffers and Chance both reached double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The two combined to shoot 5-of-10 from three-point range.
 
The Vulcans feature four players who average double-figures in points, although they had just one tonight as Drew Cook had a team-high 16 points.
 
The Crimson Hawks return home next Wednesday night when they host high-scoring Edinboro (7-7, 4-6). Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.