THE COLLEGES : Middleton Leads Chapman, 71-64 : Panthers Turn to Strength to Counter San Luis Obispo

Chapman College, that fun-lovin’, snappy-passin’, three-point-shootin’ basketball team, ran into Team Thug Thursday night.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo came into the Hutton Sports Center and pushed and shoved and pushed some more. And that was on offense.

But Chapman, which prides itself on finesse, found a little intestinal fortitude when it needed it the most.

The Panthers met the Mustangs at their gut level and came away with a 71-64 victory in front of 650.

With the victory, Chapman clinches a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. playoffs.

“We went in there and banged with them,” Chapman forward Rog Middleton said. “I don’t think they’re used to a team giving it back to them. I think it took them out of their game.”

Maybe so, but it took a 14-0 run midway through the second half to put Chapman (15-11 overall, 8-5 in CCAA play) in control.

San Luis Obispo (14-10, 6-7) led, 45-37, with 14 minutes 6 seconds left to play. After a Panther timeout, the Mustangs didn’t score again for 5:30.

Bryan Richetto and Dean Balcao, who had combined for just four points in the first half, led the Panthers’ rally.

Richetto (11 points) scored six consecutive points to cut the deficit to 45-43. Balcao (15 points) then put the Panthers over the top with a three-pointer with 12:29 left. Chapman never trailed again.

“We just had to get a little heart out there,” Middleton said.

Middleton, the Panthers’ resident strong-arm, had a lot to do with the victory. Playing in a game that let him do his thing, namely bump and grind, Middleton scored 15 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

He also had two blocked shots, both in the second half, and was the force that kept the Mustangs off the offensive boards. San Luis Obispo had only three offensive rebounds.

“Rog excels at this type of game,” Chapman Coach Rich Prospero said. “He literally jumped over those guys tonight.”

And when it came to things that need a lighter touch--such as free throws--Middleton still had a heavy hand, making only seven of 15 attempts.

“We don’t have practice tomorrow, but I think Rog and I will be in the gym working on his free throws,” Prospero said.

Chapman led, 30-29, at the end of a very physical first half.

Russ Ortega, a 6-foot-5 senior, was about all the offense the Panthers could manage. He made his first six shots and scored 14 of the team’s 18 points on a variety of shots.

Ortega made two three-pointers in the first 5 minutes as Chapman took a 12-9 lead. Richetto then executed a perfect lob pass, which Ortega caught and slammed.

After Ortega (22 points) hit a five-foot turn-around along the baseline, Chapman had an 18-11 lead, its largest of the first half.