CLU Sports

Defense Silences Sagehens in Round One Finale

Kingsmen seize second half with lockdown defense
Sunday, Feb 3, 2008 11:34 pm

Deshion Inniss added a game-high 16 points in Saturday's win over Pomona-Pitzer.

Photo: Doug Barnett  ·  Hi-res image

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The California Lutheran University men’s basketball team concluded the first round of conference play with a 67-50 road win over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday night. Trailing by one at the half, the Kingsmen held the Sagehens to just five field goals in the second half.

After Cal Lutheran took the one of two Chad Acerboni three pointers at the 16:14 mark of the first period, the Kingsmen led for the next 15 minutes. CLU continued to lead with just over one minute until halftime when Jabarri Reynolds drained a three pointer with 1:09 left.

It would turn out to be the final score of the first stanza and give the Sagehens a 28-27 lead and the momentum—supposedly.

The Kingsmen tied it up just 24 seconds into the second half and back-to-back-to-back three pointers by Kyle Knudsen, Deshion Inniss and Acerboni capped off a 12-0 run. Knudsen would connect on three second half three’s and four for the game.

The senior backcourt duo of Acerboni and Inniss controlled the tempo of the game. Acerboni chipped in with six points but more importantly dished out eight assists including six in the second half. Inniss led the team in scoring with 16 points and three steals.

Cal Lutheran underclassmen Aaron Fisher and Lucas Gums combined to score 16 points and grab six rebounds in 33 minutes.

Pomona-Pitzer’s Gabriel Porter came off the bench to lead the Sagehens with 14 points and six rebounds in just 21 minutes.

Cal Lutheran (15-3, 5-2 SCIAC) will host Whittier College (10-8, 3-4 SCIAC) on Wednesday, February 6 at 7:30 pm.

Box Score: CLU 67, P-P 50 F



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