Lions hold off La Verne
A short-handed Vanguard University men’s basketball team held on just long enough to win its season opener Tuesday night.
The Lions, without as many as three starters, built a 20-point lead early in the second half before visiting La Verne made things interesting in an 83-76 Vanguard victory.
The game counted for Vanguard, but did not for the NCAA Division III Leopards, who are coming off a 9-16 campaign.
The Lions, who were 16-15 a year ago after winning the program’s first NAIA national championship two seasons ago, were led by senior Western Washington transfer Jaamon Echols, who netted 24 points.
Echols, a guard, had all eight Vanguard points during a stretch of just more than six minutes early in the second half to help the Lions keep the Leopards at bay.
La Verne, which trailed, 46-28, at halftime, closed to within 80-76 with 42 seconds left.
But Vanguard junior big man Zach Allmon collected an offensive rebound with 18 seconds remaining on the ensuing possession, then drained three of four free throws in the remaining seconds to close out the victory.
Allmon had 14 points and seven rebounds, while fellow frontcourt starter Antonio Bishop chipped in 11 points and seven boards.
Vanguard freshman reserve Brandon Brothers had nine of his 10 points before intermission, when he was three for three from three-point range.
The Lions dressed only nine players as senior guard Myles Smith (concussion), junior guard Brandon Hood (knee) and 6-4 junior swing man Aubrey Myers (broken foot) were joined by junior Victor Evans on the sideline. Evans, a transfer from Odessa Community College in Texas, is still awaiting eligibility clearance, Vanguard Coach Rhett Soliday said.
“We were missing some guys, which was evident tonight,” said Soliday, whose team shot 55.6% in the first half, but finished at 47.8%, after missing eight of nine three-point attempts after the break. “We put 20 pretty good minutes together, then we got comfortable. We had a ton of new guys on the floor, [the Leopards] got a little momentum going and it got interesting.
“But I don’t feel like the game was ever in doubt, because I think Echols was probably ready to make a play if we needed it.”
Soliday was concerned, however, with some casual defense that allowed La Verne to score far too many layups. The visitors were 18 for 30 from the field in the second half and finished at 49.2% for the game, including four of seven from three-point range.
“We definitely didn’t guard at the level we are known for guarding,” Soliday said. “But that’s what the preseason is for. Our first conference game is Dec. 8 at Westmont, so we have a little more than a month to clean some things up.”
And the Lions connected on just five of 19 three-point tries (26.3%).
Christian Ware-Berry was three for four from the field to produce nine points, while sophomore guard Malachi Hoosein was just three for 13 from the field en route to six points.
Vanguard also struggled from the foul line, making 14 of 24 for 58.3%.
The Lions visit UC Irvine on Saturday night, a game that will not count for them, but will for the Anteaters.
—
NONCONFERENCE
Vanguard 83, La Verne 76
LV – White 15, Stokes 2, Arnold 22, Mason 13, Mertens 8, Stiver 8, McClain 7, Gustafson 1.
3-pt. goals – White 3, Mertens 2, McClain 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
VU – Allmon 14, Bishop 11, Echols 24, Wade-Berry 9, Hoosein 6, Brothers 10, Kennedy 4, Dalafu 3, Burke 2.
3-pt. goals – Brothers 3, Dalafu 1, Ware-Berry 1.
Fouled out – Brothers.
Technicals – None.
