COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Chapman Shoots 66%, Pulls Away Late

Chapman Chapman took something that began as less than a masterpiece and turned it into a shooting work of art Friday night, defeating Cal State Los Angeles, 91-76, in California Collegiate Athletic Assn. men’s basketball at the Hutton Center.

The Panthers (11-6, 1-1 in the CCAA) finished with 66% accuracy from the field, but it wasn’t until late that Rog Middleton and Frantz Reyes transformed a relatively close game into a blowout.

With 9 minutes 21 seconds remaining, Middleton pulled an offensive rebound away from Los Angeles’ Chris Brooks and scored while drawing Brooks’ fifth foul. After Middleton made the free throw, the Panthers led, 65-53.

Reyes, a 6-5 junior, then scored two consecutive baskets to give Chapman a 16-point lead, and the rout was on.

Middleton, the conference’s third-leading scorer (21.4-point average entering the game) had 28 before leaving the game with Chapman leading by 21 and three minutes remaining. He added 13 rebounds, almost five above his average.

Reyes, who usually starts, came off the bench to score 19 points, 13 in the second half. He also had eight rebounds.

Los Angeles (5-11, 0-3) trailed by just 40-32 after the first half, 20 minutes that were almost painful to watch.

The teams were called for a total of 27 fouls and shot 39 free throws before halftime.

Chapman maintained its lead by making 61.9% of its first-half shots, but the Panthers never seemed to be in sync.

“The game sort of got ragged,” Chapman Coach Bob Boyd said. “Both teams fouled too much for the game to have any rhythm to it.”

The Panthers picked up the beat in the second half, shooting 69% while putting it away.

Andre Hill and Chris Martin each scored 11 points for the Panthers.

Mike Varos scored 17 points and Kelvin Harris 14 for the Golden Eagles.