Smith tallies double-double in loss to Pomona-Pitzer

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's basketball team dropped its third in a row tonight as they raced Pomona-Pitzer for the No. 3 spot in the SCIAC. The Sagehens (8-10, 6-3 SCIAC) narrowly edged out the Panthers (12-6, 5-4 SCIAC), taking the 61-58 victory.

Freshman Reed Smith tallied his second career double-double tonight with 13 points and 12 boards. The center also dished the ball out for three assists to help Chapman on offense. Senior Rob Nelsen continues to be an offensive force for the Panthers, leading the squad with 18 points tonight.

A couple of early three pointers from Nelsen and Sagehen sophomore Micah Elan kept the score close, but a layup and a couple of free throws gave Pomona-Pitzer a seven point lead five minutes into the game. Nelsen responded with a layup, but the Sagehens went on a seven-point run to extend their lead. Junior Daniel McCown hit a shot from downtown on the Panthers' next possession, followed by a Nelsen layup, bringing Pomona-Pitzer's lead to just one point with under seven minutes left to play in the half.

The two sides traded points, but back-to-back threes from McCown cut the Sagehens' lead to two points with just over two minutes left to play. Pomona-Pitzer freshman Alex Preston threw down a dunk to give the Sagehens a four point lead heading into halftime.

Sophomore Adam Rees came out of the locker room strong, slamming down a dunk on Pomona-Pitzer's first possession of the half. Nelsen came firing back, completing a three-point play to cut down the Sagehens' lead to one point. Pomona-Pitzer went on a 16-5 run that ended when McCown and Nelsen hit back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to bring the Panthers back within six points.

A couple of free throws from senior Luke Selway and a layup from Smith brought the score to 59-58 in favor of Pomona-Pitzer with 50 seconds left to play. The Panthers put the press on, fouling junior Corbin Koch and forcing him to shoot 1-and-1 free throws. Koch made both, giving Chapman the ball back with two seconds left to play and down by three. Nelsen heaved the ball down court to Smith, who tossed it back to senior Tyler Green, but the shot bounced off the backboard and fell wide of the basket, giving the Sagehens their fourth SCIAC win and a third place rank in the conference.

McCown scored 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting, as well as grabbing four rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench. Pomona-Pitzer junior Daniel Rosenbaum finished the game with a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Panthers head out on the road for their next two games, but return to Hutton Sports Center on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. to take on Cal Lutheran in the first game of a doubleheader.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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