Poets Hot Start Shocks Kingsmen in SCIAC Opener
Knudsen scores 19 in road loss
Sophomore Kyle Knudsen sparked the Kingsmen offense in its second half comeback attempt.
Photo: Tracy Maple · Hi-res imageWHITTIER, Calif. – The California Lutheran University men’s basketball team dropped its conference opener on the road Saturday night to Whittier College, 69-58. The Poets converted 17-of-25 first half shots to build a lead the Kingsmen could not overcome.
Tied at 21-21 with 6:37 left in the first half, the Poets connected on 8-of-12 shots to close out the opening frame and lead Cal Lutheran 40-25. Whittier’s Marcus Gibson score three of his 11 points with the opening basket of the second half to give the Poets an 18-point lead.
CLU trailed by 22 before Kyle Knudsen and Andy Meier combined to score the next 16 Kingsmen points and trail by just nine with 3:17 left in regulation. Cal Lutheran would come not closer despite 12 second half points from Knudsen.
The Poets hot start provided enough of a cushion to outlast the Kingsmen despite a 10-of-22 performance from the charity stripe.
Gibson, Vernon Covington (15) and Urriahn Barragan (10) each scored in double figures for the Poets. The Whittier defense managed to force 26 Kingsmen turnovers and grab 14 steals.
Tonight’s loss marks the first time CLU has dropped its SCIAC opener since the 2003-04 season—a 118-103 loss at Redlands.
Cal Lutheran (10-2, 0-1 SCIAC) will return home to face the University of La Verne on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:30 pm.
Box Score: WC 69, CLU 58 F
