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Darryl Webb scored 21 points in a 60-47 loss to California Saturday night at Memorial Field House, but despite the defeat the Crimson Hawks remained in the driver’s seat for a berth in the PSAC playoffs. IUP dropped to 12-13 overall and 4-6 in the PSAC West. The Crimson Hawks remained tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division when Slippery Rock lost to Shippensburg earlier in the day. Slippery Rock still has games with playoff-bound California and Clarion while IUP plays Shippensburg and Lock Haven, the bottom two teams in the division. California remained one game ahead of Edinboro in a tight race for the PSAC West title. The Vulcans, ranked third in the East Region, are 10-0 in the division and 21-4 overall. Webb hit 9 of 13 field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers, and also led IUP with eight rebounds. Sean Christiansen was the only other Crimson Hawk to score in double figures, finishing with 12 points while also making three steals. Alioune Mbaye led California with 20 points and nine rebounds. James Hairston added 12 points and Ron Banks scored 11. IUP led for portions of the first half but fell behind at intermission when Raynard Sawyer hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to give the Vulcans a 25-22 lead. California then scored the first two baskets of the second half to take its biggest lead to that point at 29-22 with 18:08 remaining. The Crimson Hawks trailed by only five when Webb hit a basket to make it 31-26 at the 15:23 mark, but California went on a 16-6 run over the next 7:08, taking a 47-32 lead on a steal and bucket by Mbaye with 8:15 left. California went on to lead by as many as 17. In a strange twist, both IUP-California games this season were decided by the same final score. IUP will look to move back to the .500 mark and inch closer to a PSAC playoff berth when it travels to Shippensburg on Wednesday. The Crimson Hawks play their final home game of the season next Saturday against Lock Haven beginning at 7:30.
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