It’s Difficult to Figure Next Chapman Foes

A week ago, looking ahead to Chapman College’s two upcoming basketball games, it seemed as though Cal State Bakersfield would be the Panthers’ toughest opponent thus far in conference play.

After all, Bakersfield, which plays at Chapman Saturday, compiled an 11-2 nonconference record. In the poll released before last week’s action, Bakersfield was ranked No. 14 in the nation and tied for second in the West Region among NCAA Division II teams.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which plays at Chapman Friday night, looked inconsistent during its nonconference games. The Mustangs opened with five straight victories, followed by five losses and then three more victories.

Most thought Bakersfield would be vying with UC Riverside for conference honors, while San Luis Obispo was destined for a middle-of-the-pack finish.

But that was before the opening tipoff in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. last Friday.

The Mustangs upset the Roadrunners, 64-59, at Bakersfield. That gave San Luis Obispo its fourth straight victory and a 9-5 overall record under Steve Beason, interim head coach.

Senior forward Sean Chambers, one of the top Division II players on the West Coast, leads the Mustangs with an 18.7 scoring average.

The Panthers (7-7) lost their conference opener to Dominguez Hills, 76-69, last Friday. Jon Samuleson, who had battled the flu before the opener, missed a practice this week, but participated in a scrimmage Wednesday. Samuelson leads the Panthers with a 15.5 scoring average.