CLU Sports

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The California Lutheran University men’s basketball team needed overtime to defeat North Central (IL) College at home on Monday night, 68-62 in the Cal Lutheran/Caltech Classic. The Kingsmen trailed by two with four minutes remaining in overtime before going on a 10-2 run to close out the game.

The Kingsmen received solid or clutch performances from several players who saw action in Monday’s win. Andy Meier nearly had a double-double scoring 17 points, including 12 in the second half, while grabbing nine rebounds.

Deshion Inniss was provided a hot hand in the first half scoring 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. He would go on to make a crucial pair of free throws with five seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Sophomore Mychal Owens scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting with back-to-back baskets in the final minutes of regulation.

Senior guard Chad Acerboni made his lone basket (a three-pointer) of the game in early in overtime to push the Kingsmen out to a lead it would not relinquish.

Sophomore Kyle Knudsen made a pair of three point baskets, one each half, the second of which pulled the Kingsmen to within four.

Lucas Gums scored all seven of his season high consecutively for the Kingsmen, while grabbing a pair of steals in a 2:14 span midway through the opening half.

Freshman guard Aaron Fisher scored the final six Cal Lutheran points of the game to seal the deal for the Kingsmen.

It seems as though this game was destined to go beyond 40 minutes. The two teams tied 10 times including scores of 30-30 and 56-56 at the half and end of regulation, respectively.

Outside of the scoring, Cal Lutheran edged North Central in field goals made (23-21), three-pointers (8-6), assists (14-12) and steals (7-6). The Cardinals out rebounded the Kingsmen 28-26 and both teams went an identical 14-of-22 free throws.

The Cardinals (5-3) had four players score in double figures including a game-high 18 points from Matt Rogers, who did so on 7-of-10 shooting.

Cal Lutheran (4-1) will face Gallaudet (DC) University at Caltech on Wednesday, December 19th at 3 pm.