Know-How Is Enough for Cal Lutheran

“I don’t know how we do it, but somehow we manage to win.”

Those were the words of Cal Lutheran Coach Rich Rider following the Kingsmen’s 77-75 victory over La Verne in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

Cal Lutheran (16-6, 9-2) played without injured starters Mike Fenton and Mark Heerema, but got a boost with the return of Dave Ulloa, who missed eight games because of a broken finger.

Ulloa scored 12 points, including eight in the second half.

With the score tied, 67-67, Ulloa made a three-point shot from the left corner with 1 minute 25 seconds left, and Rob Beckerley added two free throws with 1:10 remaining to give the Kingsmen a 72-67 advantage.

Cal Lutheran made only five of 11 free throws in the final minute to keep things interesting.

Mack Reliford, who scored 22 points for La Verne (15-7, 7-4), scored with 16 seconds left to cut the lead to 74-72, but he committed a major mistake when he was whistled for a foul away from the ball.

The call not only gave Beckerley two free throws--he made one of them--it also gave Cal Lutheran possession.

Jon Rider made one of two free throws to give the Kingsmen a 76-72 lead with eight seconds left.

Cedric Jones made a three-pointer with three seconds left to pull the Leopards to within 76-75, but Greg Nagle of Cal Lutheran made one of two free throws with two seconds to play.

Paul LaMott scored 26 points for Cal Lutheran, which won its fourth in a row and remained a game behind first-place Pomona-Pitzer in the SCIAC.

Cal Lutheran, which has won or shared three consecutive SCIAC titles, plays at Pomona-Pitzer in the regular-season finale on Feb. 23.