With almost no time left in a turbulent campaign, the Pomona-Pitzer men’s basketball team (9-11, 4-8 SCIAC) found a shining light amidst the shadow that has lurked over their season in a decisive 64-54 win over Chapman University (15-5, 9-3 SCIAC) at home this past Saturday, February 6th. Although the Sagehens had 23 turnovers in the contest, they were able to pull out a victory against the top-ranked team in SCIAC.
The Sagehens beat the Panthers by a resounding 10 points, making a clear statement to both Chapman and the rest of the SCIAC conference that they aren’t finished just yet. The victory was led at the charge of Daniel Rosenbaum PO ’19, who had 16 points and five boards on the day, and helped power the Sagehen offense to dominate a stingy Chapman defense.
During the first half, neither team was able to decisively run away with the lead, and both squads battled fiercely in a game that was constantly back and forth. After finishing the first half tied at 28, the Sagehens hit their stride, scorning their first four field goals in quick succession to start the second half.
The Sagehens’ great shooting and rebounding helped them achieve victory in this game. They shot 45.7 percent from the field and pulled down 46 boards on the night. As the second half progressed, the Sagehens would begin to pull away as they went on a 15-2 run, which put them out of reach of a comeback from the Panthers.
This past Wednesday, Feb. 10th, at Voelkel Gynasium, the Sagehens looked to complete back-to-back wins by triumphing over California Lutheran University (9-10, 5-7 SCIAC). Unfortunately, the Sagehens narrowly fell to the Kingsmen 61-53. Although the Sagehens tried to catch up to the Kingsmen, Cal Lutheran sustained a lead the entire game, which was impossible for the Hens to overcome.
Although the Sagehens didn’t achieve victory on the day, forward Gibson Farone-Collins PO ’16 had an impressive outing, with a game-high 19 points and eight boards. Guard Daniel Rosenbaum PO ’19 also had a standout performance, and added nine points for P-P.
With only five games left in the season, time is of the essence for the Sagehens if they wish to secure a place in the SCIAC playoffs. It is feasible for them to make the post-season, as they are tied for last place with three other basketball teams in the conference.
The two teams ranked above the four tied for last place in the SCIAC only have a two-game lead on the quartet. So while it is possible for the Sagehens to pull off a surprising run into the playoffs, the fate of their season rests in their hands.
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