It's A Charity Loss

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Seven years and 15 games ago, Cal Baptist knocked off Azusa Pacific.  Tonight, Lancers finally did it again, handing the NAIA's No. 8-ranked Cougars a 68-65 defeat in Riverside, sending the Cougars to their second defeat in 3 games.

It's not the fact that the Lancers pulled off the win that's impressive. It's how they did it using something that hasn't been too friendly to them over the past few seasons – free throws.

Normally a 63% free throw shooting team, the Lancers hit 74% (23-for-31) of their free throws, including 17-of-24 in the second half, to keep the Cougars at a distance for most of the second half.

With the game hanging in the balance, and his team clinging to a 2-point lead (67-65) with the clock running down, CBU's Jeff Berokoff drove the lane and missed a running shot with 5 seconds left.  However, the Lancers' Dameon Brewington grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 2.7 ticks remaining.  A 52% free throw shooter this season, Brewington hit the first of 2 pushing the lead to the final margin.  He missed the second, and the Cougars rebounded the ball and called a timeout with .4 seconds left but could not get a final shot.

After a superb first half, the game went stagnant in the final 20 minutes.  The Cougars led 44-40 with 15:54 to play when the Lancers scored the next 6 points, all on free throws, over a 4 minute span to assume a 46-44 lead with 13:02 to play.

The first 20 minutes was very entertaining.  The game was deadlocked 7 times, and the lead changed hands another 13 times with no lead bigger than 6 points when Cal Baptist held a 26-21 lead with 5:48 to play.  From there, the Cougars used a pair of 3-pointers from Steve McIlwain and Brett Michel to finish the half with a 16-7 run, including 7 straight points to end the first 20 minutes with a 37-33 lead.

Three Cougars hit double-figures, led by Gary Dredge's 13-point, 9-rebound performance.  Senior All-American John Bourne added 11 points and 7 rebounds.  McIlwain finished with 10, hitting a pair of threes.  CBU's Rich Lopez led all players with 27 points and 7 rebounds.  Will Porters, the Lancers' leading scorer, finished with 13.

With the win, Cal Baptist improves to 18-11, 10-9.  Azusa Pacific falls to 21-6, 13-5.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Steve McIlwain: G; 6' 1"; Senior

#30 John Bourne: F; 6' 4"; Senior

#32 Brett Michel: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

#53 Gary Dredge: C; 6' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#11 Steve McIlwain
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G

#30 John Bourne
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

#32 Brett Michel
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#53 Gary Dredge
: 6' 9"; Senior
: C