College BASKETBALL : Cal Lutheran Stays Alive for Playoffs by Squeaking Past L.A. Baptist, 71-70

Cal Lutheran is still in the NAIA District III playoff picture because, for a change, its opponent ran out of time.

“I told the kids I’m not sure how to feel because it’s been so long,” Coach Ed Anderson said after his Kingsmen snapped their eight-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 71-70 victory at Los Angeles Baptist College. L.A. Baptist fell to 1-8 in conference.

“We finally made it. It was nice to see them do it this time. It’s just an exhilarating feeling.”

Cal Lutheran, which is still mathematically alive with a 2-7 league record, scored five straight points to lead, 70-65, with about a minute and a half left in the game. But the Mustangs, who beat the Kingsmen, 61-56, at Cal Lutheran on Jan. 15, did not roll over.

Kelly Byrd, who shared game-high scoring honors with teammate Paul Jungkeit, scored two of his 21 points by tipping in a missed shot by Virgil Harraway. Mark Taggatz and Harraway then traded free throws and the Mustangs regained possession of the ball with 30 seconds left on the clock after Jeff Wrout’s errant pass went out of bounds.

L.A. Baptist cut its deficit to 71-70 with 17 seconds left on a desperation scoop shot by freshman Dexter Sanders, whose shot soared five feet above the rim before going through.

Byrd then fouled Pat Gibbs, who missed the free throw and Harraway got the rebound with seven seconds left. L.A. Baptist moved the ball up from their back court, but Cal Lutheran’s defense toughened around the key and the Mustangs were denied a final shot.

“After missing the free throw, I knew I had to try harder on defense and not let them get the shot,” said Gibbs, whose assignment was to cover Harraway. The Mustangs’ leading scorer this season never got close to handling the ball.

“It seemed like a long seven seconds,” Anderson said with a grin. “We did it just right.”

The Kingsmen, who are now 6-22 overall this season, led by as many as nine points with 6:03 left in the first half before L.A. Baptist cut the margin to 44-41 at halftime.

The Mustangs took their biggest lead, 53-48, with 14:36 left in the game before Cal Lutheran tied it, 58-58, on two of Steve Cotner’s team-high 19 points--an 18-footer from the left side of the court with 8:05 left.

The Kingsmen then snapped a 64-64 tie with five consecutive points before L.A. Baptist staged its threat.

“I’m glad we could get that one for the coach,” Gibbs said. ‘It’s been a downer season for him.”