Chapman Plays It Close but Loses CCAA Opener

Somehow it seems fitting that Chapman College was involved in another tight conference game with Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday night.

These games with the Toros are almost predictable.

Last year, the margin of victory was six points in the two California Collegiate Athletic Assn. meetings between the teams.

Although Dominguez Hills surpassed last year’s point spread in just one game, defeating visiting Chapman, 76-69, Friday night in front of 580 fans, it was tied with 5 1/2 minutes left.

If you throw out a 27-point victory by Dominguez Hills, the average victory margin is four points in the last eight games the teams have played.

“It was typically close with the Chapman ballclub,” Dominguez Coach Dave Yanai said. “You’ll find it comes down to the last five minutes in these conference games.”

And that’s exactly what happened.

Chapman point guard Jon Samuelson tied the game at 52-52 with 5:36 remaining. Vico Nomaaea made a jump shot to put the Toros ahead by two. The Panthers turned the ball over and Nomaaea was fouled by Maurice Thompson and made both free throws to extend the lead to four.

Probably the two most critical plays were executed by the same player, Toro forward Tony Akins. With Dominguez leading, 56-53, Akins tipped in Anthony Blackmon’s shot. Chapman pulled within three with Kelly Huston’s basket.

But the Toros came down the court and Akins repeated the shot, this time off Nomaaea’s initial attempt.

From then on, the game turned into a free throw shooting contest.

“It was a great college game,” Chapman Coach Kevin Wilson said. “It really came down to the last 2:45. Those two tip-ins were really crucial. But I’ll bet we outrebounded them.”

Chapman did, 34-33, although it was small consolation. Samuelson, who missed Chapman’s last three practices because of the flu, led the Panthers with 14 points. Guard Chris Perine had 12 and Alan Erickson had 10.

For the Toros, William Alexander had 21 points. Akins added 12 and Brian Edwards had 11.

The Panthers are 0-1 in conference and 7-7 overall. The Toros are 1-0 and 11-3.

Susan Bergendahl hit a pair of free throws with one second remaining to give visiting Chapman a 72-70 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCAA opener for both teams Friday.

Bergendahl was fouled by Michelle Jennings as she forced a last-second shot.

Chapman took a 16-5 lead early in the game and led, 32-28, at halftime, but the Toros came back to lead the contest for much of the second half, until Sherry Williams tied the score at 68-all with 1:50 remaining.

Karan Polk led the Panthers with 15 points, Bergendahl scored 14 and Valarie Hartsfield added 13. Deborah Shepherd led the Lady Toros with 15.

Chapman is 1-0 in the CCAA and 8-6 overall. Dominguez is 0-1 and 5-9.