Chapman Enjoys the Good Side of a Rout : College basketball: Panthers roll past Pacific Christian, 102-40, for widest margin of victory since 1983-84.

Early this month, Chapman College traveled to Baton Rouge to play nationally ranked Louisiana State and was predictably drummed, 101-68.

Friday night against Pacific Christian, a team similarly overmatched, the Panthers administered their own beating in a 102-40 nonconference victory at the Hutton Center.

It was the widest margin of victory for Chapman since it defeated LIFE Bible, 141-54, in the 1983-84 season, and it looked as ugly as it sounds.

Pacific Christian has advanced to the finals of the National Christian College Athletic Assn. Division II tournament the past two years, but the Royals (12-9) are struggling this season, and Chapman showed little mercy.

Playing man-to-man with more intensity than they have all season, the Panthers seemed to be taking to Coach Bob Boyd’s new emphasis on defense.

“I think the three days of emphasis that we put on our defense did show itself,” Boyd said. “And it was illustrated in this game. I wouldn’t want to in any way downplay the importance of our defensive effort, but it should be kept in mind that Pacific Christian didn’t have the manpower to make it a close game.”

After Kenny Crawford, who led PCC with 17 points, gave Pacific Christian a 2-0 lead, the Panthers (6-4) basically did what they pleased. Chapman led, 51-19, at the half, and PCC committed 19 turnovers. But many of those were unforced, and the Royals took three fewer shots in the half than they had turnovers.

It got no better in the second half: PCC finished with 32 shots and 33 turnovers. Chapman was able to empty its bench twice, midway through the first half and with about six minutes remaining in the game.

Except for starting point guard Al Jackson, every Chapman player scored. In the 26 minutes he played, Rog Middleton scored 19 points for Chapman. Alan Schlines scored 17 and Zlatko Josic 13 before fouling out late in the game.

Chapman will play Cal State Fullerton tonight in its third game this season against a Division I team.