THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran men's basketball (6-5, 1-1 SCIAC) dropped its final game of the 2025 calendar year in a home defeat against Amherst (9-3, 0-0 NESCAC) by a score of 71-63. Matthew Verkamp poured in a game-high 17 points, and freshman Cody Shen set a career high with 10 rebounds.

The Kingsmen got off to a hot start with threes from Aidan Crawford and Ryder Mjoen. Layups from Crawford and Verkamp gave Cal Lutheran an early 10-5 advantage at the 16-minute mark. The Mammoths respended quickly after, and they eventually opened up a double-digit lead with under seven minutes to play in the first half at 28-18.

Layups from Crawford, Josh DeVore, and PJ Jourdain cut Cal Lutheran's deficit to four, and the teams traded baskets for the remainder of the opening half. An and-one from Verkamp with 11 seconds left off an assist from Tony Angelo made it 40-35, advantage Amherst, heading into the break.

Ze'ev Remer converted a layup to kick off the second half, and shortly after, a pair of free-throws from Mjoen got the Kingsmen within one point. From there, Amherst ripped off a 14-0 run to break the game open and take a 54-39 lead with under 15 minutes to play.

Cal Lutheran clawed back possession-by-possession, eventually getting within five after a jumper from Shen made it 60-55 with 3:29 to go. Quality free-throw shooting by the Mammoths wouldn't allow the Kingsmen to inch any closer to completing a comeback, and Amherst won the game 71-63.

Verkamp scored 17 points (5/6 FT) to go with seven rebounds, and Shen posted career-highs of 10 rebounds (five offensive) and five points. Angelo and Remer dished out four assists apiece.

The Kingsmen are now finished with non-conference play and will continue their SCIAC schedule with a home game against Chapman on Monday, January 5 at 4pm.