Second-Half Scoring Drought Dooms Chapman

No one can say the Chapman men’s basketball team isn’t trying.

With gritty determination, the Panthers stayed close to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday night at Hutton Center. But a late scoring drought doomed them to a 75-66 loss.

It was the third consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Assn. loss for Chapman (6-12, 1-5 in the conference), which last week ended an eight-game conference losing streak. Friday, the Panthers had one of their weakest efforts of the season, scoring a five-season low of 41 points in a loss to Cal State Bakersfield.

“I told our team that if losing is going to in any way curtail your next effort, then you shouldn’t be in competitive athletics,” Chapman Coach Bob Boyd said.

The Panthers didn’t quit Saturday, but their offense stalled at a bad time.

After cutting San Luis Obispo’s lead to 64-61 on a three-point basket by Vern Broadnax with 3 minutes 40 seconds remaining, the Panthers didn’t score until Broadnax hit another three-pointer with 14 seconds left. In the meantime, San Luis Obispo had scored 11 consecutive points to put the game out of reach.

Chapman bodies were flying in the first half--Broadnax and Brian Kenney each threw themselves into the Chapman bench going after loose balls--and the Panthers took a 31-27 lead at the half.

San Luis Obispo (15-4, 3-3) regained control by scoring the first 10 points of the second half before Chapman rallied behind Rog Middleton, who finished with 24 points and nine rebounds.

Middleton, who had to fight for every shot, made eight of 11 from the field and eight of nine from the free-throw line. Before he missed a free throw with 7:46 left, he had made 17 in a row over the past three games.

Broadnax also helped the Panthers get back into the game, making three three-pointers in the second half, once pulling Chapman to within two points and once to within three. Broadnax scored a season-high 14.

Matt Clawson scored 19 points and David Delaney 17 for the Mustangs. Shawn Kirkeby, the CCAA’s leading scorer who has a sprained ankle, scored seven points in 12 minutes.