CLU Gets Big Shot by Fenton

In a game loaded with big shots, none was bigger for Cal Lutheran than one by Mike Fenton.

Fenton made a shot-clock beating 24-footer from the left side with 39 seconds to play Wednesday night against Occidental to give the Kingsmen a seven-point lead.

The shot sent Cal Lutheran on its way to an 84-76 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at Eagle Rock.

Fenton, a 6-foot-6 forward-center, shoots well for a big man, but his preferred range is from 16 to 17 feet, not 24.

Nonetheless, when he took a pass from Jon Rider--who had run down a loose ball while going out of bounds--and nailed the three-pointer, Cal Lutheran took control.

“He didn’t have a choice on that one,” Cal Lutheran Coach Rich Rider said. “Time was running out, but he managed to square up well and give it a good shot. It’s hard to give it a good shot from (that far away), but he did.”

John Pike, who scored 21 points for Occidental, made a three-point shot with 32 seconds left to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 80-76. But Rob Beckerley made two free throws with 22 seconds remaining to give the Kingsmen an 82-76 lead. Rider’s layup with 11 seconds left--following his third steal of the game--gave Cal Lutheran its final margin.

Rider, the coach’s son, and Paul LaMott each scored 15 points as Cal Lutheran (14-6, 7-2) remained a game behind first-place Pomona-Pitzer in the the SCIAC.

“This team is winning because we’re playing good defense, we’re hitting our free throws and a different person is coming to the party every night,” Rich Rider said. “Every game, someone else seems to step up.”

Greg Nagle, who entered the game averaging 1.5 points, was one of those people against Occidental. He scored 13 points and made three three-point shots.