Know-How Is Enough for Cal Lutheran

THOUSAND OAKS — “I don’t know how we do it, but somehow we manage to win.”

Those were the words of Cal Lutheran Coach Rich Rider following the Kingsmen’s 77-75 victory over La Verne in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

Cal Lutheran (16-6, 9-2) played without injured starters Mike Fenton and Mark Heerema, but got a boost with the return of Dave Ulloa, who missed eight games because of a broken finger.

Ulloa scored 12 points, including eight in the second half.

With the score tied, 67-67, Ulloa made a three-point shot from the left corner with 1 minute 25 seconds left, and Rob Beckerley added two free throws with 1:10 remaining to give the Kingsmen a 72-67 advantage.

Cal Lutheran made only five of 11 free throws in the final minute to keep things interesting.

Mack Reliford, who scored 22 points for La Verne (15-7, 7-4), scored with 16 seconds left to cut the lead to 74-72, but he committed a major mistake when he was whistled for a foul away from the ball.

The call not only gave Beckerley two free throws--he made one of them--it also gave Cal Lutheran possession.

Jon Rider made one of two free throws to give the Kingsmen a 76-72 lead with eight seconds left.

Cedric Jones made a three-pointer with three seconds left to pull the Leopards to within 76-75, but Greg Nagle of Cal Lutheran made one of two free throws with two seconds to play.

Paul LaMott scored 26 points for Cal Lutheran, which won its fourth in a row and remained a game behind first-place Pomona-Pitzer in the SCIAC.

Cal Lutheran, which has won or shared three consecutive SCIAC titles, plays at Pomona-Pitzer in the regular-season finale on Feb. 23.