ATHERTON, Calif. - A slow start to the second half was too much for Menlo College to overcome in a 63-52 loss to Johnson & Wales in the Lamont Ramsey Classic on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Oaks led 26-24 at halftime, but it took nearly eight minutes for Menlo to score its first field goal of the second half. Once Johnson & Wales took control early after the break the Oaks were never closer than five points the rest of the way.

 

The visiting Wildcats scored nine straight points to begin the second half to take a 33-26 lead. Oaks Tim Kees and Patrick Greene each sunk a pair of free throws around a field goal by Johnson & Wales' Matt Fisher to keep Menlo within five, but it wasn't until just 12 minutes, 23 seconds remained in the game when the Oaks netted a basket of their own when Tyler Rajnus scored inside.

 

Johnson & Wales followed with a 9-2 run keyed by Nick Maly, who made a pair of field goals to go with two free throws and an assist on a Nate Lark basket. The Wildcats took their biggest lead at 48-34 with just over eight minutes to play.

 

Menlo fought to stay in the game and had one run left in it late. Trailing by 12 points, the Oaks got the crowd going when Julian Harris drained a 3-pointer from a Drew Davis assist with a shade more than three minutes remaining. Davis followed with a pull-up jumper before Menlo was handed a big lifeline. The Wildcats' Andrew Baker was called for an offensive foul followed in short order by a technical foul. Davis drained the ensuing free throws to pull the Oaks within five and they had possession with just under two minutes left.

 

What looked to be a defining moment in the game was exactly that. Oaks forward Nick McCullar left a contested layup short, then Lark was fouled as he scored inside and completed a three-point play with one minute, 34 second left to put Johnson & Wales ahead 56-48.

 

Neither team led by more than five points in the opening half as they both struggled to score. The Wildcats led 10-5 early before Menlo turned it on before halftime, taking its biggest lead at 26-22 on a Davis basket. Baker made a pair of free throws to close out the first half and start Johnson & Wales' half-spanning 11-0 spurt.

 

Harris led the Oaks in scoring for the fourth time in as many games, netting 11 points to go with five rebounds before fouling out in just 25 minutes of action. Ryan Dung came off the bench to score 10 while Davis and Kees netted eight apiece. Menlo shot just 28 percent from the field in the game.

 

Baker led the Wildcats with 17 points before fouling out. Lark scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Chris Brunson added 10 points.

 

Menlo falls to 2-2 on the season while Johnson & Wales improves to 4-4. The Oaks host CSU Stanislaus at 4 p.m. on Sunday following a 2 p.m. matchup between the Wildcats and Bethany.

 

CSU Stanislaus 85, Bethany 53: In Atherton, the Lamont Ramsey Classic got off to a lopsided start as CSU Stanislaus cruised past Bethany from the very start. The Warriors scored the first eight points of the game and led 24-4 just more than 10 minutes into action.

 

Bethany pulled within 12 points just before halftime, but CSU Stanislaus netted the final four points of the first half and first 10 points of the second to put the game well out of reach at 52-26. The final margin was the largest of the game.

 

The Warriors dominated the boards thanks to the trio of Matt Ibewiro, Jordan Stokes, and Frank Monge. Ibewiro posted a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Stokes had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Monge 13 points and seven rebounds. CSU Stanislaus outrebounded the Bruins 46-28.

 

James Jensen led eight Bethany scorers with eight points. Tauran Moore, Ron Houston, and Micah Jones each netted seven points.

 

CSU Stanislaus is now 3-0 while Bethany is 1-9. The Warriors close out the Lamont Ramsey Classic at 4 p.m. on Sunday versus host Menlo while the Bruins are back in action at 2 p.m. against Johnson and Wales.