THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran served as the host for the Annual Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Men's Basketball Tournament which got underway on Thursday night. CLU dropped its tourney opener to Washington (MD) College 75-67.
Box Score: WASH 75, CLU 67 – F
Box Score: CART 76, GEN 48 – F
Washington (MD) 75, Cal Lutheran 67 – F
The Kingsmen returned to their home turf following a 10-day hiatus for the Holiday Break. CLU enjoyed its return home early on leading by as many as 12 points during the opening half of play. Freshman Mike Harris led the effort with team highs of 13 points and four boards over the first 20 minutes.
Over the final 82 seconds of the first period Washington's Kevin Breslin score six unanswered points to cap off a 10-0 run. He turned a four-point Shoremen deficit into a 42-36 halftime lead.
It was a lead the visiting side would maintain until an 8-0 scoring run sparked by Cal Lutheran's three leading scorers put the Kingsmen up 56-54 with 7:20 left in regulation. Harris and Aaron Van Klaveren provided six of those points and each finished with double-doubles.
The Shoremen responded in kind with eight unanswered points late in the game. A shot-clock beating fade away three-point heave from Sal Schittino banked in giving Washington a 67-61 lead with 49 ticks left.
Breslin led all players with both 22 points and six steals and was a rebound shy of a double-double to lead his squad. Tony Hawkins and Schittino each poured in 13 points in the win for WC.
Van Klaveren led Cal Lutheran with 18 points and 13 rebounds. He and Harris combined to shoot 15-of-24 from the field and totaled 33 points and 24 boards.
Cal Lutheran (3-5) will face Geneva (3-7) in the consolation final at 6 p.m. Carthage (6-4) defeated Geneva 76-48 on Thursday night and will play Washington (6-5) at 8 p.m. for the TFFL title.
Carthage 76, Geneva 48 – F
Game two of the Annual Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Men's Basketball Tournament saw the Carthage College Red Men defeat the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes 76-48.
In a defensive battle early on, the Red Men took a 37-19 advantage into the locker room behind a thrilling performance by 6-foot-9 Luke Johnson who tallied four blocks, grabbing eight rebounds.
Carthage shot 49.3 percent from the field and cruised the victory behind a 23 point night from Mitch Thompson and a defensive gem from Johnson who finished with nine blocks and 12 rebounds to lead all players.
Geneva, which shot just 26.2 percent as a team was led by the trio of Dave Phillips, Lambros Svingos and Matt Lorello. Each player poured in 12 points while Svingos and Lorello came down with nine rebounds apiece.
Tomorrow Geneva will tip-off with host Cal Lutheran at 6 p.m. in the consolation final. Carthage and Washington play for the tournament title at 8 p.m. The TFFL All-Tournament Team will be announced following the completion of Friday's contests.