Win over Hope gives Panthers fourth straight 20-win season

ORANGE, Calif. - For much of the second half, the Chapman University men's basketball team trailed Hope International University, but with five minutes remaining, the Panthers regained the lead and held on for a 68-61 win Thursday night at the Hutton Sports Center.

With 17:04 remaining in the second half junior F Boran Rajcic hit a three-pointer to give the Royals a 42-39 lead. Hope International (4-18) held the lead until the five minute mark when sophomore G Griffin Ramme hit a runner to put Chapman back on top 59-57. The game remained in doubt until junior PG Kyle Wood sank a baseline jumper with 50 seconds left.

After getting behind 6-0 in the first half, the Panthers went on an 11-0 run to jump ahead. Chapman led for the remainder of the half holding a 35-30 lead at the break. Ramme had 16 of his game-high 23 points in the first half.

Sophomore F Justin Riley added a double-double for the Panthers tallying 15 points and 11 rebounds while Wood added 11 points and three assists.

Rajcic finished with 16 points for the Royals while junior C Marko Torovic and junior G Marcellus Cullors had 13 and 11 points, respectively.

With tonight's win, Chapman (20-3) has reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth season in a row.