Chapman Takes Care of Riverside

Chapman College kept its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. playoff hopes alive Friday night with a 75-70 victory over UC Riverside in the Hutton Sports Center at Orange.

The Panthers (7-6, 14-13) are a game behind Cal State Northridge (8-5, 12-14) in the race for fourth place and the final spot in next weekend’s conference tournament. Chapman plays host to Cal Poly Pomona tonight.

The loss dropped UC Riverside (9-4, 19-7) into a three-way tie for first with San Luis Obispo and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Chapman took a 41-40 halftime lead on David Roth’s three-pointer with eight seconds left. The Panthers led, 67-62, with four minutes left before three-point baskets by Keith Hunter and Tony Holt gave Riverside a 68-67 advantage with 3:03 left.

Chapman’s Chris Perine gave the Panthers a 70-68 lead with a three-point play with 1:25 left. The lead was increased to 71-68 when Alan Erickson hit the first of two free throws with 45 seconds to go. The Panthers were 12 of 13 from the free-throw line in the second half and 21 of 24 in the game.

Jon Samuelson led Chapman with 17 points, Karl Tompkins added 14 and Roth had 12. Robert Jimerson had 18 for Riverside and Thomas scored 16.

In a women’s game:

UC Riverside 66, Chapman 64--Guard Susie Karr scored 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field to lead the Highlanders at Orange.

The Highlanders led, 37-26, at the half, but the Panthers came back to tie the score, 64-64, on Val Hartsfield’s basket with 36 seconds remaining. Riverside got the ball inside to Tonie Carter for a two-footer with 12 seconds to go. A eight-footer by Chapman’s Annette Jones with two seconds left bounced off the front rim.

Tina Cavalin led Chapman (5-6, 12-13) with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Hartsfield added 15 points for the Panthers.