Another Title for Crusaders : Bruce, Lanthier Lead Point Loma Nazarene to NCCAA Victory

Steve Bruce scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds Saturday night to lead Point Loma Nazarene College to a 73-68 victory over Eastern (Pa.) College in the championship game of the National Christian College Athletic Assn. tournament at Chattanooga, Tenn. It was Point Loma Nazarene’s third straight NCCAA championship.

Guard Greg Lanthier made four free throws in the final 27 seconds to clinch the victory for the Crusaders (25-10). Clayton Williams scored 18 points and DaWayne Burton added 10 for Point Loma Nazarene.

The Crusaders led, 69-68, with 38 seconds remaining when Barry Craver missed a jumper that would have given Eastern the lead. Bruce grabbed the rebound and passed to Lanthier, who was fouled. He hit two free throws to put the Crusaders ahead, 71-68.

Bruce got another rebound after Craver missed a three-point shot and passed to Lanthier, who was fouled again. Lanthier hit two free throws with seven seconds remaining to wrap it up.

Arnold Johnson, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored 19 points and had 16 rebounds to lead Eastern (24-10).

Eastern outrebounded Point Loma Nazarene, 37-28, and had 16 offensive rebounds in the first half. Point Loma Nazarene hit 56% (27 of 50) of its shots from the floor; Eastern hit 35% (26 of 75).