Master’s Ends Cal Lutheran’s Bid for Playoffs

It’s about as difficult to guard Jeff deLaveaga as it is to spell his name.

DeLaveaga flirted with the California Lutheran single-game scoring record Friday before settling for a season-high 44 points. But that did little to help the Kingsmen, who dropped a 92-74 decision to The Master’s in an NAIA District 3 game at Cal Lutheran.

CLU (5-18 overall, 3-5 in district play) was eliminated from playoff consideration with the loss.

The CLU record is 51 points, held by deLaveaga’s brother Steve, who plays professionally in Australia.

Jeff deLaveaga, who was 12 of 29 from the field and 15 of 22 from the free-throw line, was the only Kingsman to reach double figures in scoring. And for a time, he kept Cal Lutheran in the game against the bigger, deeper Mustangs (16-14, 8-5).

The third of deLaveaga’s five three-point baskets tied the score, 36-36, late in the first half, but Master’s went on an 8-0 run to close the half and led, 44-36, at intermission.

DeLaveaga, who had 22 points in each half, kept the Kingsmen within striking distance early in the second half, but CLU lost starting forward Matt Wilken to fouls with 10 minutes 31 seconds to play. Center Mike Demeter fouled out a minute later and Masters, which outrebounded Cal Lutheran, 49-29, steadily pulled away after that.

Tom Bruner did the most damage for the Mustangs, finishing with a team-high 23 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Reserve forward Ken Sugarman added 22 points and five rebounds for the Mustangs.

The Master’s bench outscored CLU’s bench, 52-10, as three reserves--Sugarman, Stuart Epperson (11 points) and David Humphreys (10)--reached double figures.