Sagehens too much inside for ULV
Campus Times
February 27, 1998
With the season coming to a near end, hopes for a Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship were nearly shattered
Monday night as the University of La Verne men's basketball team was defeated
by Pomona-Pitzer, 76-51, in the ULV Supertents.
The loss knocks the Leopards out of the first place tie with the Sagehens,
who now are in sole possession with a 20-4 record, 11-2 in SCIAC.
As for the Leopards, they came into Monday's game on an emotional high
after defeating Whittier, 79-67. After the two games, the Leopards now stand
at 18-6 overall and 10-3 in SCIAC.
"Now we are just playing for pride," said junior forward Jesse
Pena. "We had high expectations for the game and thought that we would
come to play the Leo basketball that brought us into that championship game."
Pomona-Pitzer held the lead 37-31 at the end of an intense first half.
Senior guard Chris Moreland and junior guard Chad Duggins teamed up
to score nine of La Verne's first 14 points and kept the Leopards within
striking distance, 21-14, midway through the first half.
But the Pomona-Pitzer combination of freshman guard Jeremiah Martin
and senior forward Jake Guadnola scored 12 points before the buzzer to build
the 37-31 lead.
In the second half, the Leopards had difficulty producing points, making
only 6-of-33 field goals. ULV was also out rebounded 45-34, including a
33-20 disadvantage on the defensive boards.
Along with their defense play in the second half, the Sagehens' combination
of Martin and Guadnola again snuffed a Leopards attack, as the duo scored
the final 15 points in the last eight minutes of the game to ice the win.
La Verne got as close as 63-50 with 4:08 remaining in the game, but
Guadnola was able to break his team's four minute scoreless streak with
a bucket.
"Everyone is down in the dumps, but we all know that we must win
Thursday at Cal Lutheran if we are to be lucky enough to go to playoffs,"
said junior guard Kenny Cauley, who finished with seven points and three
rebounds.
ULV's leading scorer was Moreland, who had 10 points, including two
three-point baskets. Duggins and freshman forward Kevin Gustafson each scored
nine points for the Leopards.
Freshman forward Richard Walsh had six points against the Pomona Sagehens
and Guadnola finished with 20 points for Pomona.
La Verne must defeat Cal Lutheran and hope Whittier (4-7 in SCIAC) upsets
Pomona-Pitzer for a shot at the SCIAC championship.
If that scenario occurs, a championship playoff game between La Verne
and Pomona-Pitzer would be held at a site yet to be determined tomorrow.
