Concord Continues Tough Stretch at Nationally-Ranked California (Pa.)

Concord Stats - California (Pa.) Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team travels to face nationally-ranked, sixth-rated California (Pa.) 7:00 p.m. Saturday inside the Convocation Center in a non-conference clash.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Cal U Sports Information Department will have live statistics and live video of the game. 

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SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 1-0

ALL-TIME MEETINGS VERSUS CALIFORNIA (PA.)
December 8, 2018: Concord 80 - California (Pa.) - 63 (Salem, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 0-1
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-1

BACKCOURT BOARDS
As part of Concord's rebounding advantage of 32-24 at Virginia Union in the season opener, the Mountain Lions counted on the backcourt duo of senior guard Corey Boston and senior guard Kollin Tolbert to tie for the team lead in rebounds with five. Boston finished a rebound shy of matching his career high against VUU while Tolbert continued a trend from last season. The Cincinnati, Ohio native led CU in rebounds per game last season at 6.4, and overall he led the Maroon and Gray in rebounding in nine games last winter. Wednesday marked the first time since December 2022 that Concord held an opponent under 25 rebounds—the Mountain Lions limited Frostburg State to 24 rebounds in the game two years ago.

TAKE IT AWAY
CU started the season with 12 steals while forcing 17 total turnovers in the 86-81 defeat to Virginia Union. Last season, the Mountain Lions only had 10 or more steals once, at Davis & Elkins in February. The last time Concord had 12 or more steals in a game was November 2021 at Indiana (Pa.). Boston matched his career high with four steals while graduate guard Jordan Wooden set a new career best with four steals against VUU. Concord, known for its pack line defense, only averaged 4.5 steals per game as it tallied more blocks last season, 148, than steals, 134. Four other players added one steal each at Virginia Union.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Three Mountain Lions, freshman forward Kraig Gilbert, freshman guard Josiah Rickards and junior forward Ken Sallee, all played significant minutes against Virginia Union Wednesday in their CU debuts. Gilbert had a pair of rebounds and a block in 12 minutes of action. Rickards was a perfect 5-of-5 at the foul line as part of his seven points. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native added three rebounds. Rickards is just one of five players in the Mountain East Conference to attempt five or more free throws and make each through the first week of the season. Meanwhile, Sallee came off the bench to hit two three-pointes as he, senior forward Amare Smith and Tolbert all buried two triples. Sallee scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes.

PSAC SUCCESS
The Mountain Lions have won three of their last four games against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference schools after downing Indiana (Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown last season and defeating Clarion on the road to open the 2022-23 season. Tolbert had one of his six career double-doubles in last year's 78-71 win over Pitt-Johnstown as he recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior forward Rene Diop shot 5-for-7 as part of his 12 points to go with seven rebounds. And Boston came off the bench to score 10 points in 14 minutes versus UPJ. Wooden (18) and Smith (16) combined for 34 of Concord's 61 points in last year's win over IUP.

CHALLENGE AWAITS
Saturday marks the second time in as many years that Concord travels to face a nationally-ranked, top ten PSAC West team after downing IUP 61-57 last season when the Crimson Hawks opened the 2023-24 season ranked fourth in Division II. Along with the scoring from Smith and Wooden, Diop affected the game in a multitude of ways with eight points, 10 rebounds and a career-best seven blocks. CU held IUP to 26.8 percent shooting in the game. The road contest at Cal U also marks the return for the Mountain Lions to the Convocation Center where they had their season ended in March by Charleston in the NCAA Division II Tournament. If Concord would have beaten Charleston, CU would have played Cal U in the second round of the national tournament.

INSIDE PRESENCE
Saturday's matchup features two of the best big men in the Atlantic Region in Diop and Cal U's Keith Palek. Even though Diop was held down to eight points and four rebounds at Virginia Union, the Dakar, Senegal native finished 2023-24 campaign by averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in the final eight regular season games. For Palek, he averaged 8.7 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per contest last winter, but has opened the 2024-25 season on a tear. In three games, Palek is averaging 22 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field. Tough 6-foot-8, Palek is also a threat from three-point distance as he has made 117 career three-pointers.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
14- Points by Smith versus Charleston last season at Cal U's Convocation Center.

21- Times Concord has shot 45 percent or better in the last 31 games, dating back to last season, after opening the season by hitting 45.8 percent of its shots at Virginia Union.

75- Career blocks by Diop which is now tied for seventh at CU after blocking a shot at VUU.

CALIFORNIA (PA.) AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 3-0
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 2-0
Neutral Record: 1-0

SCOUTING THE VULCANS
California (Pa.) advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament's Second Round last season where it was defeated by Charleston. Palek along with a cast of other players have been tasked with picking up the slack left by all-region performer KJ McClurg who transferred to Division I Longwood. Donald Whitehead is averaging 18 points per game and Cam Polak has tossed in 14 points per game thus far. The Vulcans have picked off MEC foes Charleston and Glenville State to begin the season along with a win over Penn State-Fayette.