Pomona-Pitzer Ices Cal Lutheran, 60-57

THOUSAND OAKS —  An inability to hit the clutch shot or make the big defensive play down the stretch proved costly for Cal Lutheran in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball game against Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday night.

Christian Dunbar’s basket gave the Kingsmen a one-point lead with 3 minutes 11 seconds left in the game, but Cal Lutheran went cold after that in a 60-57 loss.

“We just didn’t play the way we needed to play in the last few minutes,” Cal Lutheran Coach Rich Rider said. “The ball didn’t go down for us on a couple of shots, but some of that was probably due to their defense. You have to give them some of the credit.”

Pomona Pitzer (12-6, 6-1) maintained a share of the SCIAC lead with La Verne as Cal Lutheran (12-6, 5-2) fell a game behind.

The Kingsmen seemed to have the momentum after Dunbar’s jumper capped a 11-4 run and gave them a 50-49 lead, but they scored only seven points on their last 10 possessions, hitting two of seven shots and two of six free throws.

Pomona-Pitzer countered Cal Lutheran’s run with a 7-0 spurt.

Phil Kelly buried a three-point shot to give the Sagehens a 52-50 lead with 2:55 left and Travis Greer and Jason Lowery followed with baskets to give Pomona-Pitzer a 56-50 lead with 59 seconds left.

The Kingsmen couldn’t catch up, even though the Sagehens made only four of nine free throws in the final 50 seconds.

“We were just rushing our shots all game,” Rider said. “We were trying to do it too quickly at the offensive end. “

Paul LaMott scored 14 points for Cal Lutheran, but 12 came in the first 25 minutes. Pomona-Pitzer collapsed on him whenever he got the ball after that.

Greer had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Sagehens.