THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran men's basketball (3-1, 0-0 SCIAC) returned home to host Whitman (2-1, 0-0 NWC) in its first game of the 2025-26 season inside the Gilbert Arena. The Kingsmen got out to an early lead in the first half en route to a 71-59 victory in which 10 different players scored a basket.

Cal Lutheran was coming off a 2-1 opening week road trip to Ohio when the Blues came into town for their first of three games against SCIAC opponents.

A pair of driving buckets by Matthew Verkamp got things going for the Kingsmen, and then he added an and-one to score seven of his team's first 10 points. Three-pointers from Josh DeVore, Aidan Crawford, Tony Angelo, and two from Ryder Mjoen developed a 29-9 lead for Cal Lutheran with nine minutes remaining in the first half. A jumper from Ze'ev Remer gave the Kingsmen their largest lead of the night at 21 points with less than five minutes to play in the half. A layup from Jaden Young gave Cal Lutheran a 41-24 lead entering the break.

Cal Lutheran shot 52% from the field and 43% from three-point range in the first half.

Whitman battled in the second half, but quality free-throw shooting down the stretch from the Kingsmen kept their lead in double-digits for the remainder of the game.

Verkamp led Cal Lutheran with 17 points (7/12 FG, 2/4 3FG, 1/1 FT), adding five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Mjoen, Young, and Camden Hyde each contributed nine points. Remer posted five rebounds and four assists.

Cal Lutheran will enjoy a few days off before hosting NYU on Wednesday afternoon and George Fox on Friday evening.