COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Chapman Loses Close One With Riverside

It makes little difference to Coach Bob Boyd that the Chapman College men’s basketball team is showing signs of tenacity as the season winds down.

Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of about 2,000 at Chapman’s Hutton Center, the Panthers hung close with UC Riverside before losing a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game, 79-75.

Although Boyd said he thought Chapman (12-14, 2-9 in conference) played more consistently than they have in any game this season, he didn’t walk to talk about progress.

“The record speaks for itself,” Boyd said. “The statistics show 2-9--that’s us. That’s what’s so great about sports.

“I wouldn’t want to elaborate on that.”

Indeed, the record shows Chapman alone in last place in the CCAA with one game remaining. That comes next Saturday at Cal State Bakersfield, the defending conference champions.

Riverside (19-5, 7-3), a team which set a NCAA Division II record this season when seven players scored on three-pointers, matched that standard again Saturday as seven players made 11 of 24 three-pointers. Anthony Jenkins was four for seven in three-pointers and had 16 points for the Highlanders, who move into a tie for first place with Bakersfield, a 90-75 loser to Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday.

Even so, Chapman seemed up to the challenge and led, 66-61, with 6 minutes 21 seconds remaining before the Highlanders pulled it out.

Riverside went on a 13-4 run in the next 3 1/2 minutes to take a 74-70 lead. Chapman had its chances to get back into the game but committed two turnovers in the final two minutes that stopped all hopes of a successful rally.

Chapman trailed 38-36 at the half but tied the score, 43-43, with 16:29 left in the second half on a basket by Zlatko Josig, who, like Hill, Chris Martin and Chuck McGavran, is a senior playing his final home game for the Panthers.

Chapman made 65% of its shots in the second half (55% in the game) and went on a 13-5 run to go ahead, 58-55, with 9:20 left.

In Golden State Athletic Conference men’s basketball:

Southern California College 72, Westmont 70--Mike Henjum was fouled on a layup attempt and hit two free throws with three seconds left to win a close game at Westmont. Jeff Bickmore scored 21 points, Jon Carmichael added 13 and Henjum had 10 points for SCC (21-7, 7-4). Westmont is 16-9, 6-4.

Christ College Irvine 74, Azusa Pacific 62--Jamie McShan scored 21 points and Keith Rogers 18 for host (11-17, 4-7).

In the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. women’s basketball:

UC Riverside 87, Chapman 84--Depite 26 points and 16 rebounds by Jackie Saunders, the Panthers lost their third game in a row and 11th of their last 14 games.