COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Christ College Shorthanded but Still Tops Struggling Chapman

Christ College Irvine, playing without its top two scorers, still had enough to beat Chapman, 62-57, in a nonconference men’s basketball game Friday at Christ College.

Christ College (5-4) trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half but rallied and took the lead for good, 58-57, when Darren Lax made two free throws with 1 minute 42 seconds remaining.

Chapman (1-5) had several late chances to either tie the score or go ahead but was unable to score in the final two minutes of the game.

It was the fifth consecutive loss for the Panthers and the third in a row they have lost after leading with less than five minutes remaining.

Chapman shot 31% from the field, including 6% (one of 16) from three-point range.

Christ College was playing without D’Andre Brown, a 6-foot-6 post player who is averaging 19 points and eight rebounds, and 6-4 forward Brian Hazelwood (14.5 points and six rebounds). Brown was serving a one-game suspension for fighting in the Eagles’ 73-55 victory over Claremont last Saturday. Hazelwood sprained an ankle in practice Wednesday.

Picking up the slack were Lax, who scored 15 points, and Agustin Heredia, who scored 25.

Heredia, a junior transfer from Orange Coast, made nine of 10 free throws, including two that gave the Eagles a 60-57 lead with 32 seconds remaining.