Point Loma Dances Away From Cal Lutheran, 73-58

The Cal Lutheran gym resembled a disco before the Kingsmen’s NAIA District III game Friday night against Point Loma Nazarene.

The music was provided by the Cal Lutheran spirit band. The flashing strobe effects were courtesy of a production company that was going to take photographs during the game.

The music and flashes continued once the game began as Point Loma waltzed to a 73-58 win.

Point Loma (20-6, 8-3) began the game without Deon Richard, the Crusaders’ All-American forward. He had been averaging 29 points in his last three games. Richard was supposed to drive to Cal Lutheran from his home in Gardena, but was delayed by a family emergency.

“I was a little concerned when Deon didn’t show up,” Point Loma Coach Ben Foster said. “But, he’s the kind of guy that’s ready to play as soon as he walks into the gym.”

Richard missed eight minutes of the first half, but still scored a game-high 20 points. Richard also had nine rebounds and helped the Crusaders get several second and third-shot baskets.

“They just had too much size for us,” said Cal Lutheran Coach Ed Anderson, whose team was out-rebounded, 38-25. “Early in the game, we did pretty well, but they just wore us down as the game went on.”

Cal Lutheran (6-19, 2-9) has now lost five consecutive games. The Kingsmen, however, still have a chance at qualifying for the conference postseason tournament. The Kingsmen have a nonconference game tonight against UC San Diego and then finish the conference schedule with games at Southern California College and Azusa Pacific.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs,” Anderson said. “If we can win at least one of those conference games, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

Cal Lutheran wasn’t doing too badly against Point Loma for much of the first half. Center Steve Cotner scored eight of his team-high 16 points to help the Kingsmen to an 18-14 lead.

Richard tied the game with six minutes left in the half, then led Point Loma on a four minute spurt during which the Crusaders outscored Cal Lutheran 14-4. With two minutes left in the half, Point Loma was ahead, 32-22. The Crusaders led by seven at halftime.

Cal Lutheran guard Jeff Wrout cut the lead to 34-28 when he made an 18-foot jump shot to open the second half. But Point Loma forward Steve Bruce made two baskets, Kevin Kennedy and Richard each added a free throw, and the Crusaders’ lead was back up to 12.