Pan American Hands USIU Seventh Straight Loss

After winning seven of their first 12 games, the U.S. International University men’s basketball team has gone into a tail spin.

Pan American University defeated the Gulls, 93-85, Saturday night at Southwestern College. The loss was the seventh straight for USIU (7-12).

The Broncs (11-7) led by one, 39-38, at halftime, but scored the first eight points of the second half to control, 47-39. Pan American built the margin to 11 (53-42) later in the half.

USIU narrowed the lead to three points, 81-78, with 1:57 to play, but the Broncs’ Joe Johnson sank four free throws to seal the victory.

Pan American shot 65% from the floor in the second half, and shot 56% for the game. USIU made only 47% of its field goal attempts.

The Gulls committed 31 fouls and Pan American capitalized, sinking 24 of 29 free throws. USIU made only three of five free throws.

Guard Joe Yezbak, the naton’s second-leading scorer, led the Gulls with 22 points before fouling out with 2:08 to play. Carl Chenault had 14 and Charles Redding 13 for USIU. The Broncs’ Michael Anderson led all scorers with 24 points.

USIU will play at Chapman College on Tuesday.