COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UC San Diego 88, Cal Lutheran 85--Cal Lutheran center Steve Cotner made his final appearance before the home fans in a nonconference game against UC San Diego.

Cotner has played in more than 90 games in four years at the school, and following Cal Lutheran’s loss to San Diego, he couldn’t find much difference between the most recent loss and any of the 20 the Kingsmen have suffered this season.

“Tonight was like the story of our season,” Cotner said. “Three points short.”

Besides ruining the final game for Cotner and fellow seniors Pat Gibbs and Jeff Wrout, the loss also spoiled the 27-point performance of freshman guard Steve Delaveaga.

Cal Lutheran was trailing, 86-83, with 18 seconds left in the game when Wrout missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation. Wrout then fouled San Diego’s Brian Backens and Backens made two free throws to put the game out of reach.

“Tonight’s game was indicative of how we’ve played all season long,” Cal Lutheran Coach Ed Anderson said. “Good teams win the close games and we just haven’t done that at all.”

Cal Lutheran (5-21, 2-9) finishes its season on the road with conference games next week at Southern California College and Azusa Pacific.