REDLANDS, Calif. — Tommy Griffitts' putback with 2.4 seconds left lifted Cal Lutheran men's basketball to a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament Championship, and NCAA Tournament berth, as they defeated Redlands 69-68 on Saturday night.
The No. 4 seeded Kingsmen won their first SCIAC Tournament championship. They will represent the SCIAC in the NCAA Tournament and the selection show is set for Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Devon Lewis was named the 2022-23 Men's Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He scored a career-high 29 points, on 10-15 shooting, to lead his squad to the championship.
The No.3 seeded Bulldogs took a one-point lead with 16 seconds left in the game. With just under five seconds, Lewis made his move and drove to the hoop. Griffitts followed and was in the perfect place after a missed layup, and his putback was the deciding factor.
Griffitts added 12 points, and just missed a double-double, with nine rebounds. Desi Burrage added nine points, Brock Susko recorded eight and Jake Martin had six more.
Stephen Davis was all over the court with five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Lewis recorded a team-high four assists and Susko matched him with two steals.
The game featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, and no team led by double-digits. The Bulldogs led for most of the first half, but a furious rally gave the Kingsmen a one-point advantage at the break.
In the second half, Cal Lutheran had its largest lead, 60-52, with 6:03 to play. Just as the Kingsmen made a comeback in the first half, the Bulldogs did so in the second. With the Bulldogs roaring back, free throws helped the Kingsmen hold the lead. Cal Lutheran was 14-17 on the night.
Redlands continued to fight, but Cal Lutheran was there for the answer each time. Clutch plays came from all over the court as the Kingsmen saw Burrage make a contested layup, Lewis and Burrage drain free throws and Griffitts had a huge block.
After the Bulldogs took a one-point lead with 1:18 to go, Lewis drilled a jump shot to put his team back ahead. Redlands took the lead once more with 16 seconds left and the rest is history as Griffitts made the final bucket.
With the win, the Kingsmen have earned an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is Monday at 10 a.m. PST.
Box Score: CLU 69, UR 68
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