GLASSBORO, N.J. — Cal Lutheran men's basketball battled Rowan University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but were outlasted in the final minutes, 83-77, on Friday night.
The Kingsnen showed they could handle top competition, playing in their first NCAA tournament since the 2000-01 season.
Four Kingsmen scored in double-figures led by Devon Lewis with 17 points. Brock Susko was next with 14 points, Tommy Griffitts added 13 and Desi Burrage had 10. Jake Martin and Logan McCullough came off the bench and scored eight points each.
Lewis and Ssusko were both one rebound shy of a double-double as they tied for the team-lead with nine. Seven different Kingsmen had two-plus assists as Stephen Davis, Susko and Burrage had three each.
The Kingsmen shot 42.6-percent from the field, 43.8 from three-point range, but 50.0 from the free throw line. Rowan was 46.6 from the field, but 14.3 from three and 65.0 for free throws.
The big difference in the game was turnovers and points in the paint. Rowan had just five turnovers to Cal Lutheran's 13. The Profs then scored 60 points in the paint while the Kingsmen had 26.
The game started slow before the Profs took a 16-9 lead 10 minutes into the first half. The Kingsmen clawed their way back and eventually took a 20-18 lead after a McCullough three. Cal Lutheran continued to add to its lead and were up 41-32 after a Susko three. It was a strong first half from the Kingsmen as they were up 46-38 at the break.
In the second half, it was the Profs that came back. Rowan slowly chipped away at the lead and went up 60-59 with 9:19 remaining. The teams exchanged buckets over the next few minutes and Lewis put the Kingsmen up 70-69 with 3:32 left. Rowan built up a seven-point over the next minute before the Kingsmen fired back. Cal Lutheran made it a two-point deficit, 77-75, as Lewis hit a three with 40 seconds remaining. Rowan made its free throws down the stretch and held on to win.
It was a successful season for the Kingsmen as they won their first-ever SCIAC Tournament Championship, went dancing for the first time since 2000-01, and were in the SCIAC Tournament in back-to-back years.
Box Score: RU 83, CLU 77
CLU Instagram: @clusports
Sport IG: @cluhoops
CLU Twitter: @CLUSports
Sport Twitter: @CLUmBasketball
CLU Facebook: @clusports
Hashtags: #clusports #ownthethrone #goregals #gokingsmen #theSCIAC #ncaad3
