Cal Lutheran Rallies, Falls in Overtime : College basketball: After late charge, Kingsmen go cold in extra period as five-game winning streak ends against Pomona, 85-76.

CLAREMONT —  After battling to a tie after the first 40 minutes of play in Wednesday night’s Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball game against host Pomona-Pitzer, Cal Lutheran struggled to do anything right in overtime of an 85-76 loss.

The Kingsmen (20-2, 9-2 in conference play) had won five games in a row, but the loss put a serious damper on their chances of winning a third consecutive SCIAC title as Pomona (17-5, 10-1) has a one-game lead with three to go.

“We did not play well under duress in overtime so I’m extremely disappointed in that aspect,” Cal Lutheran Coach Mike Dunlap said. “That’s not typical of a Cal Lutheran team.”

The Kingsmen trailed by 11 points early in the second half and were down, 62-54, with 5 minutes 18 seconds left in regulation before going on a 13-5 run over the next four minutes to tie the score at 67-67 with 1:20 remaining. Neither team scored again until overtime.

Derrick Clark (21 points) scored eight consecutive points during the run to draw Cal Lutheran to within 65-64 with 2:39 remaining, and after Travis Greer hit a pair of free throws for the Sagehens, Dave Ulloa made a three-pointer from the left corner to tie the score.

The Kingsmen struggled offensively after that, failing to score on each of their final four possessions in regulation and totaling two points during their first six possessions in overtime.

“The ball didn’t drop for us on some good-quality shots,” Dunlap said. “But we had an opportunity to win the game before overtime, but couldn’t do it.”

Clark had a chance to give Cal Lutheran a two-point lead with 45 seconds left in regulation, but his short bank shot went in and out.

Damon Ridley got free on the break shortly thereafter, but with a Pomona defender bearing down on him and time running out, his layup failed to fall, as did Clark’s follow shot with three seconds left.

The ball went out of bounds to the Kingsmen, but Clark was unable to control an inbounds pass and Rupert Sapwell’s follow missed the mark as time expired.

The overtime was all Pomona as the Sagehens scored on their first four possessions--while Cal Lutheran turned the ball over three of the first four times it touched the ball--to take a 75-69 lead with 2:02 left.

Three of Pomona’s baskets came on second or third shots as Cal Lutheran was unable to keep the taller Sagehens off the offensive glass.

“We did have a very good game in overtime,” Pomona Coach Charles Katsiaficas said. “But it wasn’t due to any adjustment we made. I wish I could say it was.”

Down by six, the Kingsmen were forced to foul and as they did, Ulloa, Clark, Sapwell and Tapp went to the bench with their fifth fouls.

“All things aside, the ball was not put in the hole when we had it in the crease at the end of (regulation),” Dunlap said. “We had our chances.”

Bill Cover scored a career-high 24 points--including 20 after halftime--for Pomona and Greer added 21 off the bench.

Cal Lutheran made only 27 of 75 shots from the field compared to Pomona’s 29 of 51.

Cal Lutheran trailed, 26-21, with 4:17 left in the half before going on a 7-2 run to enter the locker room with the score tied, 28-28.

The Kingsmen made only 11 of 32 shots in the first 20-minute period, but they hit three of four during the run, including a three-pointer by Ulloa with five seconds left on the clock.