Lions turn it on, win

COSTA MESA — Flashes and glimpses of basketball excellence have become patches and stretches during the Vanguard men’s team’s six-game winning streak that included an 82-67 nonconference triumph over NCAA Division II visitor Mesa State of Colorado Wednesday night at The Pit.

If this keeps up, it might be no time at all before Coach Fred Litzenberger’s Lions (8-2) are bullying opponents in 20-minute blocks.

“We had a great second half,” Litzenberger said after Vanguard needed just more than eight minutes after the break to turn a 36-31 halftime advantage into a 58-38 bulge.

But the Lions, whose six-game winning streak matches the best stretch by the 2005-06 team that wound up in the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City — a similar stretch of success can’t be found in the Vanguard website archives that date back to 1999 — didn’t wait until halftime to get going against the Mavericks (5-4).

Down, 25-16, with 7:02 left in the opening half, the Lions went on a 14-0 run over a span of 3:25 that included three-pointers by Andrew Ellis (two), Dennis Heenan and Brian Roberts, to establish control.

Roberts swished a three-pointer from just inside the half-court line at the first-half buzzer and the lead eventually swelled to 73-46, before Mesa State put together a brief blitz late against the end of the Vanguard bench.

The Mavericks closed to within 73-60 with 2:44 left, prompting Litzenberger to put some of his starters back in. And order was restored for the hosts, who played before a crowd of 130 that was largely devoid of students.

“We were sluggish for a while,” said Litzenberger, who also acknowledged that the end of finals last week may have left his players at least mentally drained.

“At halftime, we talked about coming out with great energy in the second half and we sure did,” Litzenberger said. “We played great defense [to start the final 20 minutes], we rebounded, we got some fast-break points and we were moving the ball to set up wide-open shots. For a 13- or 14-minute stretch, we played really, really well. Now, we just need to try to make those periods longer and longer.”

Balance and depth, two factors that have helped the Lions already surpass the victory total achieved by last year’s 7-22 unit, was displayed in abundance Wednesday.

Starting guards Ellis and Scott shared team scoring honors with 14 apiece, and Ellis, who was three of five from three-point range, chipped in a team-high five assists. He also shared the team lead with three steals, helping the Lions force 19 Maverick turnovers, while committing just 13.

Arvydas Vaitiekus, a 6-foot-11 senior center, led the winners with six rebounds and three blocked shots to go with four points, while high-flying DéAuonté Johnson, a 6-5 forward, came off the bench to contribute 11 points.

Roberts, a senior reserve, finished with eight points, while freshman Billy Thompson took advantage of the big lead by producing five points and three steals in eight reserve minutes.

“I wanted to play everyone tonight and we did,” Litzenberger said.

Ten Lions scored and 12 of the 13 who played recorded at least one rebound.

Heenan, a Newport Harbor High product, had nine points, and matched Johnson’s strong shooting performance by converting four of seven field-goal attempts.

Vanguard, which won the rebounding battle, 34-24, secured the victory by draining 21 of 23 foul shots, including five without a miss from Scott.

“We’re really excited, because we know we have great team unity,” Scott said. “We feel like every win is making us tougher and tougher. Some stretches tonight allow us to see our full potential. We need to continue to work on eliminating our lapses.”

It was the third straight win over an NCAA Division II team for Vanguard which has also defeated Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Vanguard ups the ante even more tonight, when it visits NCAA Division I representative Cal State Northridge.

“It’s a game we’re not supposed to win,” Litzenberger said of the matchup with the 5-2 Matadors. “We’ll see what happens.”

Nonconference

Vanguard 82, Mesa State 67

MS – Ashbaugh 21, Ekong 18, Bangle 6, Markham 3, Mathews 2, Swartzendruber 6, Mortensen 5, Renneisen 3, Flohr 3.

3-pt. goals – Ashbaugh 2, Ekong 1, Markham 1, Renneisen 1, Mortensen 1, Flohr 1.

Fouled out - None.

VU – Trajceski 8, Vaitiekus 4, Ellis 14, Scott 14, Heenan 9, Johnson 11, Roberts 8, Gusiff 5, Thompson 5, Henderson 4.

3-pt. goals – Ellis 3, Roberts 2, Scott 1, Heenan 1, Gusiff 1, Johnson 1.

Fouled out - None.

Halftime – VU, 36-31.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].