BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The ninth-ranked Calvin University men's basketball team lost 81-71 to 24th-ranked California Lutheran University on the second day of the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday.
 
After playing second-ranked UW-Platteville at the tournament on Friday night, 24th-ranked Cal Lutheran (1-1) proved another challenge against a ranked opponent for Calvin (0-2) in Saturday's early game at the event.
 
The Kingsmen started strong from the outside, making seven of 16 attempts from beyond the three-point arc in the first half while also outscoring the Knights 11-2 from the free throw line on the way to a 40-30 halftime lead.
 
Uchenna Egekeze (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) led the Knights with eight points at the break, while Owen Varnado (Muskegon, Mich./Western Michigan Christian) added seven points and seven rebounds.
 
Cal Lutheran continued to feed off its momentum from the first half to start the second as it pushed its lead to 63-43 near the midway point of the second half.
 
The Knights chipped away with the help of 22 second-half points from Varnado to cut the deficit to single digits in the final minute, but the Kingsmen held on down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Calvin finished the night shooting 40.0 percent from the field compared to 41.8 percent for Cal Lutheran, but the Kingsmen shot it well from distance (15-32) and outscored the Knights 45-18 from beyond the three-point arc for the game.
 
Varnado finished the night with career highs in both points (29) and rebounds (18) and was named to the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
Egekeze finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Parker Swartz (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview/Ohio Dominican University) added eight points off the bench.
 
NEXT UP: Calvin men's basketball will return to action on Friday, November 15, when it plays a two-day tournament hosted by Heidelberg University. The Knights' first game on Friday will be against UW-Oshkosh at 6:00 PM.