Christian Heritage’s Butler Does In UCSD

Earlier in the season, UC San Diego defeated Christian Heritage in a men’s basketball game when Vernaldo Butler barely missed a desperation three-point shot at the buzzer.

Butler made sure that would not be the case Monday night in La Jolla. Butler scored 14 points in the final 5:41 to lead Christian Heritage to an improbable come-from-behind victory over UC San Diego, 77-74.

Christian Heritage, which snapped a five-game losing streak to improve to 2-8, trailed 66-60 when Butler took control of the game. He added two assists and scored four of the Hawks’ final five points on an offensive rebound basket with 1:00 left and two free throws with 15 seconds to go. He finished with 26 points.

In the Triton Tip-Off Tournament earlier this year, Butler had 35 before missing the shot that enable UCSD to escape with a 74-72 victory.

UCSD, which has dropped two games in a row after winning its first seven, was led by Tom Shawcroft with 25 points. Shawcroft and Butler were teammates at Grossmont College before transfering to their respective schools.

Christian Heritage had 21 turnovers to UCSD’s eight, but outrebounded the Tritons, 45-29.

Rusty Fallin led five Point Loma Nazarene players in double-figure scoring as the Crusaders defeated Elmhurst (Ill.) College, 75-67, in front of 800 at PLNC. Fallin added six rebounds and six assists, both team highs.

Frank Dews had 14 points, Mark Bulgin 12, Julious Coleman 11 and John Greer 10 for PLNC (6-3). The Crusaders shot 85% from the free-throw line and 53% from the field, including 43% from three-point range.

Maurice Fullilove scored 23 points and Chauncey Bell 18 for Elmhurst (4-3).