CLU Sports

WHITTIER, Calif. – The California Lutheran University men’s basketball team defeated La Sierra University (LSU) at the Purple Gold Classic on the campus of Whittier College, 74-65 on Thursday afternoon. The Kingsmen held the lead for all but 1:09 of the game and held off a late Golden Eagles charge in the final minutes for the win.

Senior guard Chad Acerboni scored a season-high 14 points, including nine in the opening 20 minutes. CLU’s solid first half shooting performance going 14-of-25 from the field and 7-of-9 at the foul line sprung the Kingsmen out to as large as a 20-point lead with 6:58 left in the first half.

The Kingsmen managed to hold a double-digit lead for major part of the second half, but a 7-for-23 shooting performance allowed for an LSU rally.

Trailing 61-47 with 6:30 remaining, the Golden Eagles mounted a 12-2 comeback to trail by just four, 63-59 with 2:45 left in regulation.

Despite CLU making just one field goal the final 7:30 of the game, the Kingsmen went to the line 30 times in the second half, converting 20 free throw attempts and held off LSU.

All five starters and sixth man Lucas Gums scored in double figures, with sophomore Mychal Owens the lone man to earn a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

CLU’s 39 free throw attempts marks a season high by 10. The Kingsmen have connected on 79-of-111 free throws its last four games (.711), in contrast to its first six games of the season going 87-for-148 from the charity stripe (.588).

The victory marks the second time this year the Kingsmen have defeated LSU, following a 59-49 win in Riverside on December 8. CLU also extends its win streak over the Golden Eagles to seven games, with LSU last defeating Cal Lutheran in overtime in the Kingsmen season opener of the 2001-02 season.

Cal Lutheran (9-1) will face UC Santa Cruz (2-10) on Saturday, January 5 at 6 pm to conclude the Purple Gold Classic.

Box Score: CLU 74, LSU 65 F