DeLaveaga Claims Scoring Record in Cal Lutheran Win

Fortunately for Cal Lutheran, Steve deLaveaga is more adept at breaking records than remembering them.

Coming into this season, the 6-4 senior guard needed only 77 points to tie Gary Bowman as the school’s career scoring leader.

Yet, deLaveaga wasn’t even aware of the record until the end of last season.

“I’m going to do my best not to monitor the record this year,” deLaveaga said.

As of Tuesday night, DeLaveaga no longer will have to be concerned about the matter. He scored a team-high 39 points to claim the record and lead the Kingsmen to a 107-101 victory over Cal State Los Angeles in their nonconference home opener.

DeLaveaga entered the game needing only 23 points to tie Bowman’s record of 1,840. He got 21 in the first half before missing his last 4 shots.

He tied the record on a short jumper with 17:04 left to play.

“I’m glad it’s over so now we can just go on and stop talking about it,” deLaveaga said. “I didn’t worry about it because these things just take care of themselves.”

DeLaveaga, who made 9 of 22 field-goal attempts and 17 of 20 free throws, provided only part of the drama for CLU. The Golden Eagles, who trailed, 54-34, at halftime, staged a late rally and nearly overtook the Kingsmen.

The Golden Eagles rallied to within 3 points with 25 seconds left. But deLaveaga made 5 free throws in the closing seconds to ensure CLU’s victory.

“There were times that we played extremely well, but not in the second half,” Cal Lutheran Coach Larry Lopez said.

Senior forward Rodney Moore, who scored 40 points, and Andre White, who added 24 points, kept CSLA close.

Forward Blake Miraglia added 24 points for the Kingsmen, Darryl Clark had 11 and Mike Demeter had 14.

With the win, Cal Lutheran posted consecutive victories over Division II teams for the first time. The Kingsmen, who opened the season with a 98-83 loss to San Francisco State, defeated Cal State Hayward on Saturday.