Cal Cruises Past Shepherd in PSAC Quarterfinals

Vulcans' fast-paced attack overwhelms Rams in 81-56 victory

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team raced past Shepherd University in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinals, winning 81-56. The Vulcans' fast-break offense proved too much for the Rams, as Cal built a 50-35 halftime lead and never looked back. Jordyn Buchanan and Bryson Lucas each recorded a double-double for the Vulcans, who had six players score at least 9 points in the lopsided victory.

Why it matters

The win sends California (20-8) to the PSAC semifinals, where they will face Seton Hill (18-12) on Saturday. The Vulcans were looking to avenge their semifinal loss to Shepherd last season, and they came out determined to impose their up-tempo style of play on the Rams.

The details

California raced out to a fast start, making their first three shots while Shepherd missed its first four. By halftime, the Vulcans had built a 50-35 lead and held a 30-2 edge in fast-break points. Shepherd's offense was limited to point guard Marcus Banks, who scored 17 of his career-high 32 points in the first half. But the Vulcans' defense clamped down in the second half, holding the Rams to just 17% shooting.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 5, 2026 in the PSAC quarterfinals.
  • California will face Seton Hill in the PSAC semifinals on Saturday.

The players

Jordyn Buchanan

A key player for the California Vulcans, Buchanan recorded a double-double in the win over Shepherd.

Bryson Lucas

Lucas also posted a double-double for the Vulcans, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while adding 4 assists and 3 steals.

Marcus Banks

The standout point guard for Shepherd, Banks scored a career-high 32 points in the losing effort.

Danny Sancomb

The head coach of the California Vulcans, Sancomb praised his team's fast start and defensive effort against Shepherd.

Dalmon Alexander

A California player who was one of the few healthy Vulcans remaining on the roster when Shepherd eliminated them in last year's PSAC semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“The guys were prepared. We knew what we were going against. We let everybody know what happened (against Shepherd) last year, even the guys who didn't play. We wanted to bring the fight to them. We had that (loss) in the back of our mind.”

— Dalmon Alexander (heraldstandard.com)

“Shepherd is a half-court team with a point guard who can create offense. The fast start … everybody was disappointed by last Saturday. Everybody was locked in and ready to go tonight.”

— Danny Sancomb, Head Coach, California Vulcans (heraldstandard.com)

“At this point in the season, we know what we do best. We're trusting each other and when we do that we play well.”

— Bryson Lucas (heraldstandard.com)

What’s next

The California Vulcans will face Seton Hill in the PSAC semifinals on Saturday.

The takeaway

California's fast-paced, up-tempo style of play proved too much for the half-court oriented Shepherd Rams, as the Vulcans cruised to an 81-56 victory to advance to the PSAC semifinals. This win showcased California's depth and ability to play an aggressive, high-scoring brand of basketball.