Box Score California, Penn. – Charleston takes the lead with seconds to go to defeat Cal Pa 68-67 and advance to the Atlantic Region Final.
 
The Basics:
Location: Convocation Center
Score: UC 68,Cal 67
Records: UC 29-4 (17-3 MEC), Cal PA 28-5 (19-3 PSAC)
 
How it Happened:
The University of Charleston Golden Eagles and the California University (PA) Vulcans were set for a 7:30PM tip-off in the Convocation Center for the Atlantic Region Semifinal matchup. Things got started as Cal PA won the tip and hit a jumper for the first two points of the contest, but Charleston went down the other end and responded with back-to-back threes from DeAirius Barker and Eddie Colbert III to make it 6-2 Charleston. The Golden led 12-8 heading into the first media timeout, all 12 points coming by way of the three.
 
Play continued for the next six minutes without a whistle, both teams trading buckets, but Charleston found the slight edge, picking up five defensive boards and putting up ten points before the next media timeout at 9:07.
 
With just three minutes left in the half, the dog fight continued, Charleston leading by one, 26-25, shooting 55% in the half up to this point. Despite the lead, the Golden Eagles struggled with their handles, turning the ball over six times in the half compared to Cal's three. The sixth turnover resulting in Cal PA taking the lead.
 
With one minute left on the clock, Dwaine Jones showed his poise and drained a three to tie the game at 29-29. The Vulcans then went down to court and scored on a tip in to take the late half lead before committing a foul, but the Golden Eagles could not capitalize and headed to the locker room trailing 31-29.
 
Charleston got things going in the second half with a first possession bucket from Tyler Eberhart to tie things back up. Moments later, Eberhart found himself in foul trouble when he committed his second of the half, and fourth of the game. The back-to-back fouls resulting in the Vulcans scoring the next eight points unanswered, 39-31.
 
Heading into the under 16 media timeout, Charleston trailed 44-35, the three turnovers in the half for Charleston being the difference.
 
The hot hands for Charleston in Dwaine Jones and Eddie Colbert III brought Charleston back within five after a three from Jones and a completed three-point play from Colbert III. The score 50-45 with just over 12 minutes left in the game. At the under eight media timeout, Charleston still trailed, Cal PA leading 62-53. Eddie Colbert III with 25 points in the game with six minutes left to play.
 
Charleston got two timely stops and converted for four points to bring the score to 62-57 with just over four minutes remaining. After the timeout, Eddie Colbert III made a huge stop for his team and bucket to follow to bring Charleston within three, the score 62-59. At a called Cal PA timeout, Charleston trialed by three, 64-61, Colbert now with 33 points in the contest.
 
With 27 seconds left on the clock, Charleston with possession and down by two, most would assume the Golden Eagles would go for the two to tie the game, but Dwaine Jones had other ideas and gave his team the one-point lead when he banged a three with just three seconds left for Cal PA to possess. The three would be the decider as Cal PA failed to score, Charleston taking the victory 68-67.
  
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will travel to Gannon to take on the Golden Knights in the Atlantic Region Final on Tuesday.