BOX SCORE
CHICAGO - The Sea Lions were outscored 15-3 in overtime en route to a wild 105-93 loss at Saint Xavier on Saturday. PLNU (0-2) dropped both games in their season-opening Illinois trip and has a few days off before an exhibition match at USC on November 6.
Point Loma Nazarene and the Cougars played 45 exciting minutes Saturday. The Sea Lions led by 12 points with eight minutes left in regulation only to have SXU charge back with a late run, tying the non-conference tilt 77-77 with 4:23 remaining.
The Cougars then reeled off the next seven points to go ahead 84-77. James Hancock stopped the bleeding by sinking a free throw and Nate Van Weelden made a clutch three to give Point Loma a fighting chance.
The Sea Lions were forced to foul in an effort to regain possession, though, and that strategy seemed to backfire when the Cougars made five-of-six at the line over a one-minute span to stretch their advantage to eight points with just 53 seconds left.
Van Weelden made another trey and Marek Klassen stole the ball and dished it to Wil Bush who sank a three of his own at the 15 second mark, cutting the deficit to just two. The Sea Lions fouled and were rewarded when Jake Listenbarger made just one of two. Van Weelden pulled in the rebound to give PLNU one last look. Bush swished a three at the buzzer to send the game into OT.
It was all SXU (1-0) in the five overtime minutes. PLNU missed on their first four tries and would make just one bucket out of 10 attempts. The Cougars failed to score until making a three halfway into the third stanza. Saint Xavier pulled away from that point on and cruised to the 12-point win.
Loma outscored SXU 45-40 in the opening half with the lead changing hands seven times. A Beal layup at 12:52 in the second pushed Point Loma's lead to 10. PLNU maintained a large advantage that was up to 12 at 7:59.
Six Sea Lions scored in double figures led by 16 from Wil Bush. Van Weelden and Hancock each scored 15 with Todd Campbell adding 14 and Marek Klassen putting in 10 points. Rhett Beal contributed 11 rebounds and eight points. Van Weelden handed out five assists.
PLNU shot 49 percent but were just 9-for-27 from long-range and continually hurt themselves with turnovers, making 24 for the game. The Cougars turned those turnovers into 28 points.
Saint Xavier shot 47 percent and sank 10-of-14 three-pointers. The Cougars went to the line 44 times, making 31 while PLNU was just 22-35 at the stripe.
The Cougars spread the ball around as well; six players scored at least ten. Roosevelt Green had 19 points and seven assists to lead all scorers and Stan Mayfield added 15.
