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W1 California
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March 4
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California, 117-91
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E2 Millersville
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February 29
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Cheyney, 101-96
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E3 Cheyney
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March 5
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California, 73-64
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W2 Lock Haven
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1987-88 Champion
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February 29
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Lock Haven, 89-84 OT
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W3 Slippery Rock
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March 4
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Kutztown, 86-84
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E1 Kutztown
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BLOOMSBURG – California won its seconds Pennsylvania Conference title in the past four seasons as the Vulcans downed Kutztown, 73-64, in a title game featuring two nationally-ranked teams. For the championship’s host team, under coach Jim Boone, it was the third time the Vulcans have won the championship with the other crowns coming in 1985 and 1970.
California (24-5) entered the game rated 10th in the latest NCAA Division II rankings and got a big game out of center Joe Miller as the junior scored 24 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. The Vulcans led 38-34 at the half, and the closest coach Rick Binder’s Golden Bears (21-8), who were the nation’s 16th-ranked club, could get was on at 48-47 with 14:30 left in the contest.
California reached the title game with a 117-91 win over Cheyney (16-13) in the semifinals as 1988 PC Western Division “Player of the Year” Dana Zajicek scored 31 points including four consecutive three-pointers in a span of 1:51 in the second half to break the close contest wide open. Miller added 24 points in that winning effort and Darryl Norfleet contributed 21.
Kutztown appeared in its initial championship game by virtue of an 86-84 triumph over Lock Haven (18-11) in the other semifinal game on Friday night. The Golden Bears trailed 71-58 with 9:11 left in the contest but pulled even at 80 with only 2:58 remaining on won the right to face California in the final. Jody McMillan’s 19 points off the bench led Kutztown and Charlie Chisholm’s two free throws with eight seconds to go was the difference.
Cheyney, which had to win the last regular-season game of the year to get into the playoffs, downed Millersville (19-9) in the preliminary round by a score of 101-96 to earn a sport in the “final four,” while Lock Haven needed two overtimes to subdue Slippery Rock (14-14), 89-83, to advance.
California picks up the conference’s automatic invitational to the NCAA Division II Championships for winning the title, and Kutztown should receive an at-large bid to the tourney as well.