College men’s basketball: Lions slumps, 100-87

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - The cheers that once filled the Pit have now been

replaced by silence as the Vanguard University men’s basketball team lost

for its sixth time in the last seven starts since upsetting then-NAIA No.

1 Biola, 75-73, Jan. 26.

The Lions (14-14, 9-10 in the Golden State Athletic Conference) were

outscored, 61-44, in the second half and lost to GSAC visitor Christian

Heritage College, 100-87, before a crowd that got quiet in the final

three minutes at the Pit Tuesday night.

“We need to play with more passion and more excitement, and play more

unselfish,” Vanguard Coach Stephen French said. “(The Hawks) shot the

ball very well. We were hoping to mix up zone defense, but they were

shooting well. They made us play at their tempo.”

Christian Heritage (18-12, 11-7) shot 52% from behind the three-point

line, hitting five treys in each half. Rich Griffin led the Hawks with 23

points, and he knocked down 5 of 6 from three-point range.

Vanguard answered with forward Damion Morbley, who scored a game-high

25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Shane McKim (18 points), Shawn Corker

(10) and Brendan Cotter (10) were also in double-figure scoring.

The Lions host Azusa Pacific University Saturday at 7:30 on Homecoming

Night. Then Vanguard will prepare for the GSAC Tournament (Feb. 28) and

will most likely face the No. 1 (Biola) or No. 2 (Azusa) seed, French

said.

“We can beat those teams, if we’re playing well,” French said. “When

we move the ball well, we can play well and beat teams. We need to have

trust for each other.”