ORANGE, Calif. – Eight Lewis & Clark College men's basketball players scored in the final game on the 2024 calendar, but they were unable to overcome a consistent shooting performance by Chapman University in a 79-67 loss Sunday afternoon at Hutton Sports Center.
 
THE BASICS
 
Chapman 79, Lewis & Clark 67
(Lewis & Clark 5-5, 1-0 NWC)
(Chapman 9-2, 2-0 SCIAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Junior Andre Treadwell led all Lewis & Clark scorers, tying his career-high 16 points, connecting on 7-of-12 shots from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and six rebounds. Sam Henderson added 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting while collecting a team-high seven boards and three assists, while senior Nate Berg chipped in 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and five rebounds.

The first five minutes of the game featured seven lead changes and three ties in what looked to be a hard-fought matchup. First-year Jake Rodriguez (seven points) hit a three-pointer at 16:10 to give Lewis & Clark the 11-9 advantage. Chapman responded less than 30 seconds later with a trey from Cruz Billings to regain the lead. Jake Heberle gave the Panthers a three-point lead after two made free throws. Treadwell tied the game for the last time with his first three-pointer at the 15-minute mark.

Chapman began to pull away midway through the first half. Junior Kody Uyesugi (six points) cut the Pioneers' deficit to single digits in the final two minutes of the half with a three-pointer, but the Panthers took a 45-34 advantage into the break. The Pioneers shot 50% (11-22) from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first half.

Facing their largest deficit of the game, 71-49, the Pioneers mounted a strong push late, putting together a 9-point run that began with Henderson's three-pointer at 5:03. Coming out of a Lewis & Clark timeout, Treadwell grabbed a defensive rebound and found Henderson in the paint for a layup. Chapman missed their next shot attempt; this time, Henderson grabbed the board and found Treadwell in the paint for a layup to return the favor. Treadwell stripped the ball from Billings and drove in for another bucket to make it 71-58 with 3:33 left. The Pioneers outscored the Panthers 18-8 over the final five minutes, but it wasn't enough.

Four Chapman players scored in double-figures, including Heberle, who led all scorers with 22 points.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Senior Griffin Datcher IV went 5-6 from the charity strip to score all five of his points.
• Junior Taien Jackson (six points), Rodriguez, and Berg shot a combined 9-for-9 from the free throw line to help the Pioneers finish with their best percentage (81%) this season.
• Lewis & Clark's bench outscored Chapman's reserves 23-13.

WHO'S NEXT

The Pioneers have 13 days off before returning to Northwest Conference action on January 4, hosting Pacific at 4 pm in Pamplin Sports Center.