California Outlasts Edinboro for PSAC Crown
California 73, Edinboro 65
Tournament MVP: Ron Banks, California
Ron Banks scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Saturday to lead California to a 73-65 win over Edinboro in the championship game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament at Cope Hall.
The championship was the eighth in the school’s history, with the last one coming in 1999. California trails only Cheyney, with 15, for the most in PSAC history.
The Vulcans appeared to be cruising toward victory when they opened up their largest lead of the game, 57-42, with only 5:22 remaining in the contest. Edinboro, however, was able to put together a 19-6 run over the next three minutes, whittling the California lead to 63-61 with just under two minutes on the clock.
The Vulcans prevailed with solid free throw shooting, hitting 24 of 32 on the night, and scored 17 of their final 19 points from the line.
With the win, California claims the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA East Regional Championship to be held at a time and date to be announced. Edinboro, ranked No. 2 in the most recent NCAA regional poll, will likely receive an at-large berth into the eight-team tournament.
James Hairston was also instrumental in the California victory, scoring 18 points and grabbing six boards. Edinboro was led by Joseph Jones with 19 points. Larry Bryant (14 points) and Ryan McLemore (12 points, 10 rebounds) also contributed to the Fighting Scots efforts.