Kingsmen Defeat Whittier for Third Straight Conference Win; Honor 1961-62 Team at Half

Photo by Logan Bury
Photo by Logan Bury

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — In front of the 1961-62 team, four Kingsmen scored double-digits and California Lutheran University defeated Whitter 91-75 on Saturday afternoon. 
 
It was the third straight conference win for the Kingsmen as they improved to 5-3 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play and 12-4 overall. 

Mason Johnson recorded his third career double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He added four assists and steals each. 

Desi Burrage and Tommy Griffitts came off the bench to score 17 and 16, respectively. Burrage made all five of his free throws and hit two three-pointers. Griffitts recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Four of his rebounds were offensive. 

Jacob Alonzo was the fourth Kingsmen in double-digits with 14. He added six rebounds, five steals and three assists. 

Cal Lutheran only had six turnovers in the game, while forcing the Poets into 14. The Kingsmen socred 16 points off turnovers and Whittier had just seven. The Kingsmen outscored the Poets 52-38 in points in the paint and 48-18 in bench points. 

The Kingsmen got off to a hot start and were up 16-6 just five minutes into the game. Whittier chipped away at the score, and it was tied at 30 with 5:09 left. Cal Lutheran made the last shot of the half and took a 42-40 lead at the break. 

Cal Lutheran opened the second half with a run, just like they did in the first. With the score tied at 48, the Kingsmen had a 15-5 run and took a 63-53 with 10 minutes to play. 

Whittier got within five points over the next few minutes but made baskets from Alonzo and Devon Lewis continued to give breathing room. 

With 6:01 left and Cal Lutheran up just three, Ryan Grande drilled and big three-pointer with the assist to Johnson. The Kingsmen added a bucket on their next position, a two from Brock Susko, and the lead was back to eight, 78-70. 

The Kingsmen didn't look back and got a much-needed conference win. 

Cal Lutheran is on the road for its next three matches, starting with Occidental on Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

Box Score: CLU 91, WC 75
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director

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