Vulcans close season with victory over Lock Haven
CALIFORNIA – California University of Pa. wrapped up an emotional and disappointing season with a 55-51 PSAC-West victory over Lock Haven in overtime at Hamer Hall on Saturday night to break a six-game losing streak and end the year on a positive note. The Vulcans (14-13, 4-8) celebrated Senior Day at Hamer Hall despite not graduating any players from this year’s team. However, the unit did say farewell to one teammate.
Frazier graduate Guillaume Beyl will not play with the team next season as the junior guard is returning to his native France. Beyl was put into a more predominate role in the season’s final weeks, responding with solid guard play and a reputation as the team’s best defender.
Beyl got his second start of the season Saturday and totaled five points, four assists, two rebounds and one steal in 37 minutes of action.
For the first time in almost five years, the Vulcans’ came into the season’s final contest on the outside of the playoff picture and were looking to avoid their first losing season under coach Bill Brown and first since 1986. The Vulcans had history on their side, as they had not lost to Lock Haven since 1990.
California continued its pattern of slow starts, not scoring for almost four minutes, breaking the ice on a London Houston lay-up. Cal shot only 35 percent in the first half, but still led the Bald Eagles 26-19 at the break. Both teams tried using the long ball to their advantage, but a combined 1-11 from three-point range limited scoring.
The second half saw Lock Haven, a perennial last-place team in the PSAC, make several runs, never allowing the Vulcan lead to surpass eight points.
With 7:25 left, Vulcan guard Sharif Bray hit a pair of free throws that put California in control 46-38, but those would be the last points Cal scored in regulation.
The Bald Eagle defense forced Cal into five turnovers in the games last five minutes and made some clutch free throws to tie it up at 46-46 with 51 seconds remaining. Cal’s Mike Smelkinson came up with a steal with 16 seconds left, got the ball in the post to Boris Mesnager, who drew the foul with only four seconds left. Mesnager banged the front end of the one-and-one off the rim and put the game into overtime.
Overtime saw Lock Haven take a three-point lead early in the period, but Mesnager, only a 55 percent free throw shooter during the year, hit seven of eight down the stretch to finish with a game-high 18 to secure the Vulcan win.
Lock Haven was led by a trio of seniors. Quentin Terry, Joe Walker, and Eddie Christano paced the Bald Eagles (4-23, 2-10) with 17, 15, and 12 points respectively.
The win ended a season filled with turmoil for Cal.
In November, Brown called his squad, “the most talented group we have had here in my nine years.”
Since that time, transfer Drew Schifino, who was penciled in as the No. 1 option, lost his eligibility due to participation in a workout at another school. Swingman Sherman Brittingham, who was the team’s top retuning scorer, also was ruled ineligible due to an academic problem. The Vulcans also endured numerous injuries, which saw only three players participate in every game, and only one, Mesnager, start every game.
“It was obviously a tough year, but it made us stronger,” Mesnager said. “Next year we will be stronger for what we went through.”
Mesnager, who should be an easy selection for an all-conference player, averaged 15 points and nearly eight rebounds a game in his breakout season as a Vulcan. The junior from Nantes, France easily set career highs in all categories, including a 63 percent field goal percentage that puts him in the nation’s top 10.
“I am very happy with my play this year,” Mesnager said. “I waited to get my shot this year and I tried to make the best of it. I am really looking forward to the start of next season.”
Mesnager wasn’t the only one. The Vulcans got a surprise visit from California University President Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. at halftime.
“Dr. Armenti surprised everyone, even the coaches,” Mesnager noted, “He said that this game shouldn’t be thought of as the last game of a bad season, but the first game of the new season. After hearing that, the whole team really wanted the win.”
Brown tried to put a positive spin on the season’ close.
“Even though we won’t make the playoffs and we struggled a bit, we can say we won our last game of the year,” Brown said. “Not many teams can make that claim.”
The Vulcans will return 10 players for the 2005-06 season.