COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Chapman Needs All the Help It Gets in Victory Over Bethany

This time it was Chapman’s turn to face a shorthanded team, and the Panthers had their hands full with Bethany College’s six-man roster before finally prevailing, 86-79, Friday night at Chapman.

After Chapman Coach Mike Bokosky suspended half his team for violating team rules, the Panthers won two games on the road last week with a six-man roster. Friday, Bokosky needed all hands to offset Bethany’s Joe Woods and Clint Ladine.

“You see only five or six players, and you think they’re not that good,” Bokosky said. “But they’re scholarship players at an NAIA school and that can make a difference. It was a carbon copy of our situation last week.”

Woods, the leading scorer and rebounder in the NAIA District 3 the last two seasons, scored 27 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Ladine scored 20 of his game-high 32 points in the second half, as Bethany went on a 26-12 run to take a 66-62 lead with 7 minutes 17 seconds left.

Chapman (12-6) fought back and took an 80-79 lead on Toby Curto’s two free throws with 1:17 remaining. A turnaround jumper by Stefan Mumaw in the key and two more free throws by Curto gave the Panthers an 84-79 lead with 12 seconds left. Mumaw led Chapman with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Bethany (7-13) of Scots Valley, near Santa Cruz, is coached by former USC All-American center John Block.

“For us to compete with this good a team, I’m just as pleased as can be with these guys,” Block said. “It could have gone either way.”