Point Loma Defeats Cal Baptist for Third Time

Fourth-seeded Point Loma Nazarene already had beaten Cal Baptist College twice during the regular season, but figured to have a more difficult time against the Lancers Thursday night in the opening round of the NAIA District III playoffs.

After all, in the first game between these teams, Cal Baptist was without leading scorer Patrick Green. And the second matchup saw them without starting forward and returning letterman Mike Van Beveren.

“This time we had them both and it didn’t make any difference,” Cal Baptist Coach Jerry King said.

Indeed. Point Loma proved as much by romping to a 74-58 win in front of a home crowd of 500 in Golden Gymnasium.

The win sets up a semifinal showdown against top-seeded Biola on Saturday at Occidental. Biola advanced by beating Cal Lutheran, 71-50, on Thursday night.

But getting back to Cal Baptist.

Green scored 13 points, three below his season average. Van Beveren had an off night, with only two points and one rebound as Point Loma took control midway through the second half with a 16-5 spurt.

“I’d say Point Loma is playing the best ball in the district right now,” King said. “Nobody blows us out like that. Deon Richard really killed us, he’s a great player, an All-American.”

Richard, the Crusader’s 6-foot 7-inch junior forward scored 19 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 34 points, in addition to a game-high 12 rebounds.

“Just trying to get to K.C.,” said Richard, in reference Kansas City, site of the NAIA national tournament next month.

Said Crusader Coach Ben Foster: “This time of year is when you’ve got to be playing your best ball. You play a 30-game schedule and it all comes down to this (the playoffs). We feel like we can play with anybody right now.”

Besides Richard, the Crusaders (24-7) also had scoring help from Steve Bruce, who had 17 points, Randy Schott, who had 11, and Greg Kimbrell, who scored 10.

Cal Baptist (16-15), in addition to Green’s 13 points, also had 13 apiece from Brad Reynolds and Craig Richards. Anthony Davis had 11.