COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Chapman Stops Losing Streak by Running Down SCC

There was running, gunning and even a little blood Monday night at Chapman. But when the buzzer sounded, the Panthers had won for only the second time this season, posting a 106-105 victory over Southern California College, in a nonconference men’s basketball game.

“Winning cures everything,” Chapman Coach Mike Bokosky said.

Although Chapman nearly squandered a nine-point lead in the final 1 minute 5 seconds, it didn’t bother Bokosky much since the Panthers (2-5) got the victory and ended a five-game losing streak.

“Our guys were over there celebrating with a minute left, but I told them during a time out that the game’s not over,” Bokosky said.

SCC trailed 104-95 before two free throws by Mike West and a three-pointer by Court Bickmore cut the Chapman lead to four with 46 seconds remaining.

After a Chapman turnover, Bickmore made a running 12-foot hook shot to make it 104-102 with 19 seconds left, but Chapman’s Vern Broadnax countered with two free throws with 16 seconds left to give Chapman a 106-102 lead, rendering Scott Campbell’s three-pointer at the buzzer harmless.

Although Broadnax, who had 12 points, made four free throws in the final 1:32, there were plenty of heroes for Chapman.

Brian Kenney scored a career-high 24 points despite suffering a cut on the bridge of his nose with 1:54 remaining. Officials forced Kenney to leave the game while trainers attended to the cut.

The injury didn’t deter any of the Panthers as they shot a season-best 60% from the field.

Glen Greene and Rod Summers each scored 17 points and Aaron Cornell had nine points and 10 assists. Cornell and Greene’s play-making also helped the Panthers shoot 60% from the three-point line (nine of 15). Chapman also out-rebounded SCC, 52-26.

The game marked the debut of Richie Bethune, the Panthers’ 6-foot-7 center who became eligible Friday. Bethune transferred from Southwestern College in Chula Vista before last season but was ineligible because he hadn’t completed his Associate of Arts degree.

Monday, Bethune had six points and five rebounds in 13 minutes.

“After we saw Chapman lost to Christ College Irvine, we knew they would be up for tonight’s game,” SCC Coach Bill Reynolds said. “We were hoping they would struggle for one more game.. . . But I’d say they’d found themselves tonight.”

Campbell led the Vanguards with 34 points, including seven three-pointers. Mike West added 19 points and 14 rebounds and Julian Lawrence had 13.

SCC’s Tony Hyner scored 10 points but fouled out with 15:34 left in the game.

In a nonconference women’s game:

USC 85, Cal State Fullerton 46--Lisa Leslie had 23 points, 11 rebounds, nine steals and three assists for 16th-ranked USC (4-1) at home. Joni Easterly, from Katella High School, had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Trojans. Shefonda Colbert led Fullerton (1-3) with 13 points and eight rebounds.