California University of Pennsylvania came to Sorgenti Arena for a matinee game on Wednesday against the Chestnut Hill College Men's basketball team. The Vulcan jumped out to an early lead and trailed just once by a single point as they handed the Griffins a 90-64 defeat.

Chestnut Hill falls to 2-4 while California, Pa.  improves to 3-3.

MJ Iraldi and Nigel Haughton were the only two Griffins to reach double figures with Iraldi scoring 21 points (8-15 FG, 5-6 FT) and Haughton added 13 (5-8 FG, 3-6 3FG).  Neal Hill led the Griffins with five rebounds and five assists.

The Griffins struggled on offense, particularly from three-point distance, making just eight of 37 shots from beyond the arc. (21.6%).  While the Vulcans made just one more three point basket, they were more efficient in their shooting, connecting on nine of 23 (39.1%).  Chestnut Hill shot just 37.75 for the game (23-61) while the Vulcans made 55.4% of their shots (31-56).

The Vulcans jumped out to a 7-0 lead which the Griffins then went and matched, with Haughton's first three-ball of the day tying the game at 7-7.  Cal's lead steered between one and three points until Iraldi's two free throws gave the Griffins a one point lead 14-13.  After a Conor Regan three-pointer cut the Vulcans lead to one, 18-17, the visitors went on a 17-6 uprising to take a double digit lead 35-23 with just under five minutes remaining.  The Griffins closed within seven twice before Cam Polak sank a three-ball with six seconds left to give the Vulcans a 45-35 lead at halftime.

The Griffins deficit oscillated between eight and 11 points over the first four minutes of the second half and the Vulcans led by nine 55-46 when they exploded with a 16-5 run to take a 20-point lead 71-51 with 10:53 left.  Haughton's followed with a three-ball that would bring the Griffins within 17, 71-54 with 9:41 left but that would be as close as the Griffins would get the rest of the way as the Vulcans expanded their lead to its final 26-point margin in the final seconds.

Polak and Jermaine Hall Jr. had 23 points apiece for the Vulcans.  DJ Slaughter and Keith Palak added 15 and 14 respectively.  Palak added ten rebounds to finish with a double-double.

Chestnut Hill was outrebounded 40-28 and bettered the Griffins in all of the superlative categories (points off turners, paint points, fastbreak points, etc.) except bench points where the Griffins had a 12-7 advantage.

The Men's basketball team resumes action on November 30, 2022, when they open conference play with a game at nearby rival Jefferson University.  Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.