JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
FINAL: Cal 64, Millersville 52
CALIFORNIA — Live from Hamer Hall on the campus of Cal (Pa.), it’s the men’s NCAA Division II Eastern Regional final, pitting Millersville against the host Cal Vulcans. Cue the horrible rap music.
Teams are warming up. MU in visiting yellow with black trim; Cal in home whites with red and black trim.
Not a gigantic crowd. Saw some MU followers in the lobby a few minutes ago. Tip in 22 minutes. I’ll post some updates from time to time, so stay tuned.
You can follow the game on Cal’s website here. Click on WATCH LIVE STATS at the top.
Tip in 18 minutes.
Questions, comments, gripes, complaints, thoughts … jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Anthem in the books. Tip in 8 minutes.
Game on! Updates to follow. Stay tuned.
FIRST HALF: Decent crowd. Pretty full on both sides. … 17:29 — Still no score. But plenty of blocked shots and fouls. … 16:03 MU finally on board on Miles johnny; 6-2 Cal with 15:47 to go. … Media timeout. Funny, I don’t need a timeout, but … And some AC/DC Thunderstruck. Nice. … T on MU coach Thompson. Tempers flaring. 12-5 Cal with 14:18 to go. Thompson still barking over there. And his jacket is off. … This Banks guy for Cal is really good. … 14-11 Cal with 12:11 to go. Brown and Parker with transition buckets for Marauders. … Media timeout (I didn’t call it). 11:10 to go. Cal up 18-11. … MU cuts it to 20-18 with 8:44 to go. Baskets by Stibbins and Brown. … Media timeout (for crying out loud) 20-20. MU ties it on Reggie Bates baseline two-handed stuff. 7:48 to go in the half. Sugar Hill Gang. Jam On It. Gotta love that. … MU first lead: 22-21 on Stibbins post move (wow, can he jump). 6:56 to go in the half. … 24-21 MU on Brown thunderous tip-dunk on Parker miss. 6:40 to go in the half. Good game. Hey, a non-media timeout. 30 by Cal. … Cal back in front 27-26 on Hairston J. 3:25 before the half. … Media timeout. … Anybody have the Coppin State-Mt. Saint Mary’s score? … 30-29 MU on Stibbins foul shots; under a minute to go.
HALF: Millersville 33, Cal 29. MU’s Parker bombs away on a 3 to beat the horn. Marauders up 4 in a rugged, up and down game.
SECOND HALF: MU coach Thompson has his jacket back on. … 36-33 Cal on Banks 3. He’s tough. 17:51 to go. … MU 0-2 FG and 3 turnovers. … Media timeout (whew, I needed one this time). Cal up 40-35 on Banks post move. He’s a horse. 15:55 to go. And a little Queen on the way out … Timeout, Cal. Sweet — a little U2 Vertigo. Have I ever told you U2 is the greatest band ever? … Slipping away a bit for MU: 43-35 Cal on Hairston trey. And an offense foul on MU to boot. … Forgot that former Lancaster Catholic (and MU) standout Greg Testa is a grad assistant for the Marauders. He’s looking particularly dapper this evening in his blue suit. Styling, Gregger. … Still 43-35 Cal with 13:16 to go. Nobody can buy a basket. … Largest lead for Cal: 45-37 on Banks lane J. 12:58 to go. 19 points for Banks, by the way. … Media timeout; 11:50 to go; Cal up 45-38. And some horrible hip-hop song on the way out … Did I mention that Vulcans is like one of the coolest nicknames ever? … Someone needs to edit this music during timeouts. Just heard a, um, dirty word (of the four-letter variety) loud and clear. Sheesh. … Cal up 8 again: 48-40 with 9:28 to play. … Don’t forget: I’ll be posting my official NCAA bracket later; maybe tonight. Stay tuned. … Media timeout. Wow, lots of action here. MU’s Parker hits two foul shots, then scores in transition. Then MU’s Brown throws down a jam (my dunk references are weak, I know. remember — I cover girls’ basketball). Cal up 50-46 with 7:16 to go. Should be a great finish. … Cal back up 8, 54-46 with 5:28 to play. … Clock is ticking — MU down 56-48 with 4 minutes to go. … Media timeout with 2:48 to play. Cal up 56-50. … Dagger: Cal’s Colao drills a 3; Vulcans up 59-50 with 1:46 to go.
