PAINESVILLE, Ohio (November 22, 2008) - For a game that seemed to be lacking offensively,  the 40 minutes between Lake Erie College and California (Pa.) Saturday night, was anything but boring as the Storm left Athletic Center Arena with its first win of the season, defeating the Vulcans, 50-46. Part of the reason behind the low scoring contest definitely had to do with rough shooting at both ends of the floor, however, both teams also put together minutes of unstoppable defense where nothing was going to get to the hoop, especially if Storm senior forward Derrick Thornton (University Heights, Ohio/Lutheran East) had anything to say about it.

The four-year starter who was honored prior to the game for becoming the 10th player in program history to score 1,000 points, decided to show he's also an outstanding defensive asset. He racked up five of the team's eight blocks, while also pulling down eight rebounds - all on the defensive end - on the way to helping Lake Erie record its first win as an NCAA Division II provisional member.

Lake Erie got out to a 5-0 lead on a jumper by sophomore guard Ethan Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio/Harmony Prep) and a 3-pointer by senior forward Matt Moore (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown). California didn't score its first bucket of the game until six minutes in when it hit a jumper to end the scoring drought. Lake Erie held the lead the entire half, allowing the Vulcans as close as one at 9-8 at 9:42. The Storm built its lead from there, taking a 26-17 lead at the break. The Storm ended the half on a high note after a Vulcan jumper was blocked by Thornton into the hands of senior point guard John Dickinson (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) who rushed the length of the court and hit Moore deep in the corner for a three.

Lake Erie finished the period with 11 field goals, including two 3-pointers, whereas California hit just 22-percent of its shot attempts, going 0-for-10 from three-point range.

The Vulcans improved their shooting in the second half, but only by 13-percent, this time making 11 field goals in the period. Lake Erie was quiet offensively, scoring 24 points - nine of which came from the charity stripe. Lake Erie's free throw shooting lifted the Storm above the Vulcans, with Lake Erie going 11-for-15 from the line as compared to California's 7-for-16 effort.

Thornton, Moore and senior forward Rick Leasure (Concord, Ohio/Riverside) finished the night with 10 points each. Leasure also grabbed eight rebounds along with senior forward Darnell Campbell (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood).

Lake Erie (1-3) is on the road for its next seven contests. The Storm travels to the nation's top-ranked University of Findlay on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.