CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Senior guard Jarod Robinson (Laurel, Md./Glenelg Country School) scored 17 points and freshman guard Brody Davis (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) added 15 to lead Shepherd University (4-2, 2-0 PSAC) to a 66-61 win over fourth-ranked California (Pa.) (6-1, 1-1 PSAC) in PSAC men's basketball action at California (Pa.) on Saturday evening.

Robinson connected on 4-of-11 field goals with a 2-of-5 effort from three-point range. He was 7-of-7 from the foul line. Davis drained 5-of-9 shots with a 3-of-5 effort from beyond the arc. He was 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Davis also grabbed eight rebounds.

Graduate student forward Chase Paar (Mount Airy, Md./Glenelg Country School/Towson) added 11 points and eight boards, while sophomore guard Marcus Banks (Clinton, Md./Riverdale Baptist) contributed 10 points and a game-high six assists.

Dona Whitehead Jr. scored a game-high 22 points for the Vulcans. Kaden Hannah added 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Cam Pollak tossed in 10 points.

Cal had a 26-22 lead at halftime behind 13 first-half points from Whitehead. The Vulcans built a 10-point lead at 34-24 early in the second half after a three-pointer by Whitehead with 17:45 left, but Shepherd rallied with a 16-4 run to take the lead for good after senior forward Carson Poffenberger (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) drained a three to give the Rams a 40-38 advantage with 10:39 left.

The Rams later led by as many as 10 points, but Cal rallied to within two points at 62-60 after a three-pointer by Hannah with 54 seconds left.  Shepherd closed the game on a 4-1 run with Robinson draining 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch.

Shepherd connected on 38.2 percent (21-55) of its field goals with a 38.5 percent (10-26) performance from three-point range. The Rams drained 82.4 percent (14-17) of their free throws.

California (Pa.) shot 30.9 percent (21-68) from the floor with a 28.6 percent (10-35) effort from beyond the arc. The Vulcans hit 69.2 percent (9-13) from the foul line.

Shepherd had a 45-39 advantage on the boards. The Rams forced six turnovers and committed 15.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Bowie State for a 7 p.m. contest.

Notes: Shepherd knocked off a ranked opponent for the fifth time under head coach Justin Namolik ... fourth-ranked Cal is the highest ranked team that the Rams have beaten under Namolik.
 

Shepherd's Wins over Ranked Opponents under Justin Namolik

Shepherd 70 #22 Pitt-Johnstown 55 (1-2-09)

Shepherd 99 #19 Wheeling Jesuit 88 (1-27-18)

Shepherd 74 #25 Shippensburg 67 (1-2-19)

Shepherd 96 #14/20 East Stroudsburg 88 (1-18-23)

Shepherd 66 #4 California (Pa.) 61 (11-23-24)