Chapman Takes Biola Into Overtime but Loses, 69-64

Chapman College Coach Kevin Wilson was climbing into his car for his pregame drive to Hutton Sports Center Tuesday night when a neighbor called over to him.

“Hey, coach,” she said. “You gonna win tonight?”

Wilson didn’t miss a beat. “Stop by in the final minute,” he suggested, “and find out.”

Five games into the 1985-86 men’s basketball season, Wilson has a pretty fair reading on this team. He should have cards printed: Coaching This Team Can Be Hazardous To One’s Health. Ulcers R Us.

After splitting four games decided by a total of 13 points, Chapman lost to Biola Tuesday, 69-64.

In overtime.

Of course.

It was the second time in two weeks that the Panthers and the Eagles needed an extra period to decide things. In the season opener, Chapman edged Biola in overtime, 63-60.

“We make ‘em exciting, don’t we?” said Wilson.

Tuesday’s game certainly qualified. With 40 seconds left, the Panthers trailed, 54-47.

“It should’ve been over,” said Howard Lyons, one of Biola’s co-coaches.

It wound up overtime. The Panthers put on the press and made a mad dash to beat the clock, forcing an improbable tie with eight seconds remaining.

Jon Samuelson and John Bragg hit baskets to pull Chapman to within 54-51 with 20 seconds left. Samuelson then fouled the Eagles’ Barry Barnes, who missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw situation with 18 seconds to go.

Rebound, Samuelson--and the scramble was on. Trying to hurry a shot, the Panthers ping-ponged the ball around the key for 10 seconds before point guard Jimmy Saia reached in, scooped up the ball, pumped and sent it through the hoop. Along with the basket, Saia drew a foul, sending him to the line with eight seconds remaining.

Saia converted the free throw for a 54-54 tie. When Barnes missed an 18-foot jump shot for Biola, the Panthers and the Eagles found themselves headed for another overtime.

There, Chapman wilted. Samuelson, who led the Panthers with 18 points, fouled out in the first minute. His replacement, Andy Marusich, had the ball stolen with 1:12 left and Biola leading, 62-60.

The Eagles’ Tony Hicks turned it into a three-point play. Hicks, who redshirted at Chapman in 1983-84 before transferring again to NAIA Biola, sank a layup and a free throw to give the Eagles a 65-60 advantage with 1:01 to play.

This time, the Panthers had exhausted their supply of fantastic finishes. Biola went on to win by five and improve its record to 4-1. Chapman dropped to 2-3.

Silent in the extra period but dominant in the first two was Biola center Thomas Harvey, who had 18 points and eight rebounds. He was a major reason the Eagles had a seven-point lead with 40 seconds left in regulation.

It didn’t last, thanks to the type of rally you see maybe once a basketball season.

“A typical game,” Wilson called it.

For Chapman fans, this could take some getting used to.