DeLaveaga Regains Touch as CLU Wins in Overtime

Steve deLaveaga converted a 3-point shot with 10 seconds left in regulation to tie the score and added 5 points in overtime to lead Cal Lutheran to a 66-63 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Cal Lutheran.

The senior guard made a 10-foot jump shot 40 seconds into the overtime period to give the Kingsmen the lead for good.

Forward Blake Miraglia added 13 points, including 4 in overtime, as the Kingsmen outscored the Toros, 12-9, in the extra period.

DeLaveaga, who led Cal Lutheran with 24 points and 7 rebounds, was critical of his own shot selection.

“I played so poorly tonight,” deLaveaga said. “I finally did something right when I hit that 3-point shot, otherwise I was hurting the team with my shooting.”

Center Anthony Blackmon scored 17 of his game-high 26 points in the first half to help stake Dominguez Hills to a 30-24 halftime lead.

Dominguez Hills (3-3) scored 13 unanswered points to open a 20-5 lead midway through the first half before Cal Lutheran (6-4) resorted to a full-court press to key a 10-point run that cut the deficit to 20-15 with 4 minutes left in the first half.

“Our full-court pressure got us back in the game,” Cal Lutheran Coach Larry Lopez said. “We worked hard on our defense for three days and it was responsible for the win tonight.”

Cal Lutheran forced the Toros into 16 turnovers and outrebounded them, 53-38. Blackmon led Dominguez Hills with 19 rebounds.

The Kingsmen assumed their first lead, 48-47, with 4:20 left in the second half on a basket by center Mike Demeter, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half to key the comeback.

Despite losing deLaveaga, Demeter and Darryl Clark to fouls in overtime, the Kingsmen were able to seal the victory when guard Jeff Logsdon made a pair of free throws to give Cal Lutheran a 66-60 lead with 4 seconds left.

“Steve (deLaveaga) had a bad night shooting, but he made the shots and the big plays we needed at the end,” Lopez said. “We are finally starting to get to where we should be at this point in the season.”

Clark grabbed 9 rebounds and Logsdon added 9 points and 5 assists for Cal Lutheran.