Five players score double digits in victory over Redlands

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's basketball team improved to 2-1 in SCIAC play after defeating Redlands 82-73 on Wednesday night. Five Panthers scored double digits tonight, but it was senior Rob Nelsen who led the way with 22 points.

Nelsen hit three shots from beyond the arc, two of them coming in the first half. The senior also tallied six boards to help lead Chapman to its ninth victory of the season. Freshman Reed Smith, senior Luke Selway, junior Reed Nakakihara and sophomore Kai Weissberger all joined Nelsen with double digits. Smith tallied 13 points, while Selway and Nakakihara both recorded 11 and Weissberger posted 10 points off the bench. Smith and Selway also led the Panthers on the boards, roping the ball in eight times each.

The Bulldogs took an early 10-7 lead, but back-to-back threes from Nakakihara gave the Panthers a narrow lead with over 12 minutes left to play in the half. Another made three and a layup from Selway put Chapman up by seven with just under eight minutes to play.

The Panthers went on a 10-2 run with help from junior Corwin Feerick as he made two jumpers, giving Chapman a 12 point lead with just over a minute left to play in the first half. The Panthers finished the half strong on a last-second play. Selway heaved the ball down court to Smith, who tossed it up for junior Josh Mendoza just in time to hit the buzzer-beater from beyond the arc, giving Chapman a 10 point advantage heading into the second half.

The two teams traded points at the beginning of the second half, but the Panthers always kept their cushion, leading by as much as 18 points. Redlands then scored eight consecutive points over a span of less than one minute, cutting Chapman's lead to 10 with under 10 minutes left to play in the game.

Bulldog junior Trevor Baker caught fire with less than two minutes left to play, draining three three pointers and sinking a trio of free throws, bringing the score to 80-73 in favor of Chapman. A Redlands turnover with just 17 seconds left to play gave the ball back to the Panthers, who dribbled out the clock to take the 82-73 victory.

Baker tallied 24 points, 19 of those coming in the second half alone. The junior drained five threes while also recording four assists.

Chapman travels to La Verne this weekend but returns home on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. to take on Caltech in another SCIAC game.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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