COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Chapman Trails From Start in Losing to Biola

The Chapman University men’s basketball team continued its struggle with NAIA District 3 teams, losing to Biola, 78-68, Tuesday night at Biola.

Earlier this season, the Panthers (2-3) lost to Southern California College in the championship of the Chapman Doubletree tournament and Tuesday, Biola, which is favored to win the NAIA District 3 title, led from the start.

Emilio Kovacic, a 6-foot-10 NAIA All-American from Yugoslavia, scored 20 points on seven-of-10 shooting and Doug Newby made all four of his three-point shots and scored 13 points for Biola (5-2).

Chapman, which trailed at halftime, 39-35, cut the deficit to one, 67-66, on an Alan Schlines tip-in with 3 minutes 16 seconds remaining in the game. But the Panthers scored only two more points the rest of the way.

Mike Vaughn came off the bench to score 17 for the Panthers. Frantz Reyes, who was cleared to play Tuesday after rehabilitating a reconstructed knee, had five points and five rebounds.

In nonconference women’s basketball:

Chapman 78, Southern California College 58--Missy Abraham scored 17 points, making three of her four three-point shots, for visiting Chapman (2-2).

Pacific Christian 70, La Verne 54--Kandee Almond had 24 points and Kristin Hendrickson and Donna Allen each had 14 for visiting Pacific Christian (2-3).