Once again, Panthers are Independents West Region champs

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – The Chapman University men's basketball team made it 5-for-5 on Saturday night. The Panthers defeated host U.C. Santa Cruz 91-77 to claim their fifth consecutive Division III Independents West Region crown at the West Fieldhouse in Santa Cruz. Chapman has won the playoff tournament every year of its existence since 2006.

Chapman (24-3) will now await the NCAA tournament selection committee's announcement on Monday to see if it will be returning to the Division III playoffs for a second straight year. That announcement will be webcast live at 10 a.m. (PST) on www.ncaa.com.

The Panthers used a big second half to break open a close game, shooting almost 79 percent (15 of 19) from the field and scoring 49 points in the final 20 minutes. Senior F Justin Riley scored 14 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to pace Chapman. Riley earned his second double-double in the past three games with 11 rebounds and added five assists. The senior was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Chapman had kept Santa Cruz (13-14) at arms' distance for much of the night, but the Banana Slugs refused to go quietly. UCSC cut the Panthers' lead to six points early in the second half before Chapman could extend it to double-digits. With 15:04 remaining in the game, senior G Griffin Ramme made a layup to give the Panthers a 50-40 double-digit lead it would not surrender.

A pair of free throws from senior C Jon Consani at the 6:29 mark gave Chapman its largest lead of the night at 72-50 and the Panthers cruised from there.

Ramme finished with 22 points, including a pair of three-pointers and five assists, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Junior C Ben Ricard was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field to pitch in 10 points and six rebounds.

Chapman's 91 points marked a season-high. The Panthers shot 64 percent from the floor, going 32-for-50 in the game.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director        

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/boxscores/20110226_7icm.xml