GREENSBURG, Pa. -
Trevor Blondin scored a career-high 32 points, including the game-winning shot with one second remaining in overtime as the Seton Hill University men's basketball team came back from an 11 point, second half deficit to defeat California (PA), 90-87, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon inside the Katherine Mabis McKenna Center.
Seton Hill improves to 6-10 overall and 3-8 in conference play. California (Pa) falls to 8-9 overall and 4-7 in the PSAC.
Trailing by 11 (79-68) with just 4:35 remaining in the second half, the Griffins went on an 11-0 run to tie the ballgame.
Trevor Lecuona started off the run with a three off of a Cal turnover to cut the lead eight (79-71). After another Cal turnover, Lecuona was fouled while shooting another three and hit all three shots to get the lead down to five (79-74) with 2:42 to go. Yet another Cal turnover led to a fastbreak layup by
Trevor Blondin to bring make it 79-76. After a fourth-straight Vulcan turnover, Blondin hit on a trey to tie the game at 79-79 with just under two minutes remaining. The two teams would trade buckets before Cal's Isaiah Lewis hit a quick-release jumper to put the Vulcans up by two (83-81) with just 11 ticks on the clock. Seton Hill would call timeout but an immediate turnover and a foul gave California the ability to ice the game. However, Luka Andjusic missed the front-end of the one-and-one and the Griffins raced to the other end where a
Tommy Sekunda layup rimmed out by
Spencer Casson was there for the put-back jam that sent the game to overtime with the score tied, 83-83.
Lecuona started off the overtime with a jumper to give Seton Hill their first lead since early in the second half. But, a Robel Teckle layup on the ensuing possession evened the game at 85-85 with 3:56 on the clock. Fatigue was setting in as the two teams went scoreless for the next two minutes before Blondin broke the tie with a fastbreak layup to give Seton HIll an 87-85 lead with 1:56 remaining. California tied the game again, 87-87, when Codell Smith scored a layup with 47 seconds to go. A Seton Hill turnover on the next possession gave the Vulcans the ability to win the game. Cal's Isaiah Lewis went in for the potential game-winning layup, but his shot was sent safely out of bounds with a block by
Spencer Casson with 8 seconds to go. Blondin would tip the inbound pass and Casson secured the loose ball with 5 seconds to go. Casson would hand the ball off to Lecuona who was met at mid-court by two Vulcan defenders and dished the ball to an open Blondin. Blondin raced passed Cal's Jahmere Howze and calmly hit a contested three from the top of the key with time running out. Blondin was fouled on the play and missed the foul shot, but Vulcans did not have enough time to get off the full-court shot and the Griffins stole the win, 90-87.
For the game,
Trevor Blondin led all scorers with a career high 32 points on 10-of-23 from the filed, including 4-of-9 from the three point land. Freshman Tommy Seukunda had career-highs in points (15), field goals made and attempted (6-for-10), and three-point field goals made and attempted (3-of-6).
Trevor Lecuona had 13 points and
Spencer Casson added the only double-double of the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Casson had five blocks.
Cal was led by Robel Teckle's 27 points. Jahmere Howze had 20 points, Isaiah Lewis netted 19, and Cordell Smith added 12.
Seton Hill returns to the hardwood on Wednesday when they take on Bloomsburg University in a home PSAC tilt. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.