Once upon a time, IUP-California was the game in the PSAC West.
The rivalry lost some of its luster in recent years, with the California program in decline while IUP excelled to the top of the NCAA Division II ranks.
California made its last big splash in 2008, when the Vulcans reached the Elite Eight under former coach Bill Brown. After that, California labored mostly in mediocrity while IUP established itself as a perennial national power under coach Joe Lombardi.
The rivalry regained some of its luster last year with Danny Sancomb coaching at California. The teams met four times, and IUP swept all four, beating the Vulcans twice in the regular season, once in the PSAC playoffs and again in the Atlantic Region championship game that sent the Crimson Hawks to the Elite Eight.
IUP, ranked No. 1 in the country, and California went at it again Saturday afternoon at the KCAC, and there was plenty of passion in the building in a game that featured five technical fouls.
