Cal Lutheran Opens Playoffs With 88-70 Upset of UCSD

LA JOLLA — Cal Lutheran pulled off one of its biggest upsets in school history Saturday night, defeating UC San Diego, 88-70, in the first round of the NCAA Division III basketball playoffs.

San Diego, ranked third nationally, had won 17 games in a row.

In a game of role reversals, the Tritons--who had defeated Cal Lutheran twice this season--came out rusty and nervous, and the Kingsmen dictated the script.

“I think we had the edge because they had beaten us twice,” said CLU’s Jeff deLaveaga, who scored a game-high 32 points. “Any time a team beats you twice, there’s a chance they will let down.”

An 18-5 run midway through the second half gave Cal Lutheran (16-11) a 68-57 lead with less than four minutes to play.

“There was a period around the seven-minute mark where they quick-shot the ball,” CLU Coach Mike Dunlap said. “They are a very patterned team, very organized, and one of the best-coached teams we play. But there was about a three-minute period where they forgot themselves and we broke it open.”

Dunlap was asked if this was the best game the Kingsmen had played all season. He hesitated.

“It was the sweetest,” he said.

CLU will play Otterbein (Ohio) at a site to be announced today.