Late first half run lifts No. 21 Chapman to 86-64 win over La Sierra

ORANGE, Calif. – The game stayed close for 15 minutes, but a 17-0 run to close out the first half gave the Chapman University men's basketball team a comfortable cushion as they defeated La Sierra University 86-64 on Saturday night at the Hutton Center. The Panthers are now 6-0 at home this season and have won 29 games in a row against the Golden Eagles dating back to 2009.

With 4:30 remaining before halftime, Chapman (18-3) led 32-24 after a free throw by La Sierra junior G Aaron Snyder. Chapman seniors Griffin Ramme and Justin Riley combined to score 12 of the team's next 17 points during the run over the final minutes of the half. The Panthers led 49-27 at the break. Ramme had a team season-high 30 points - 15 in each half - on 13-16 shooting from the field and eight assists while Riley had 17 points including a pair of dunks.

La Sierra (9-14) only led once in the game and that came early in the first half on a three-pointer by junior G Miles Robbins that made the score 5-4 at the 18:30 mark. The Golden Eagles stayed within nine points until the Panthers put the game away with the run. Robbins finished with 13 points for La Sierra, but was held to just three points in the second half.

With 5:54 remaining in the second half, Ramme connected with Riley for an alley-oop dunk that gave Chapman a 31-point lead at 86-55 to cap off their night. Junior C Ben Ricard also finished in double-figures for Chapman with 10 points. La Sierra was led by sophomore G Daveon Woods and Snyder who each had 14 points.

by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant