Men's hoops wins big in home debut

ORANGE, Calif.– The Chapman University men's basketball team made its 2014-15 home debut on Saturday night, treating the Hutton Center crowd to a 34-point victory over visiting Saint Katherine College with an 86-52 final. Four of Chapman's five starters scored in double figures as the Panthers improved to 2-0 this season.

Chapman shot over 60 percent (29-for-48) from the field and led from start to finish. Senior G Taylor Hamasaki led all scorers with 21 points and also added a game-high seven rebounds, while shooting 7-for-10 from the floor.

The Panthers turned a four-point lead into double figures late in the first half, going on a 10-2 run paced by Hamasaki. The senior hit a three-pointer with 7:55 remaining in the period followed by another basket to put Chapman up 25-13. The Panthers held onto that 12-point advantage into the intermission leading 36-24.

Chapman then opened the game wide with a 16-4 run to begin the second half. Senior G Colin Zavrsnick sank two of  his four three-pointers in the contest during the run and finished with 19 points overall. It was his four-point play with 9:26 remaining in the game that put the Panthers ahead 62-38. The Chapman reserves pushed that lead over 30 in the final six minutes as the bench accounted for 20 points.

Senior PG Garrett James finished with 11 assists and just one turnover to lead the Panthers' offense. Senior C John Joyce (13 points, five boards) and senior F Justin Young (11 points, six boards) also reached double-digit points.

For Saint Katherine (1-5), Lesean Galbreath led the way with 16 points, including three three-pointers.

Chapman will travel to Santa Cruz Nov. 28-29 to face UC Santa Cruz and Whitman (Wash.) and return home to host Bristol University on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/boxscores/20141122_0lqq.xml

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