PLNU got 29 points from Rhett Beal and were off to a strong start against Biola, but the NAIA #4 Eagles would not be denied, downing the Sea Lions 75-62 Thursday night in Golden Gym. PLNU has lost seven straight.

Beal did all he could to keep the team in the game, going 12-of-19 from the field and grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Nate Van Weelden added 11 points in the loss.

The Sea Lions surprised the #4 Eagles to start the night, quickly jumping out to an 8-1 lead. Biola called timeout and scored, but Beal hit a three-pointer on the next possession to make his team up 11-3. Six and a half minutes into the game, Van Weelden stole the ball and scored on a fast-break to give the Sea Lions a 15-6 lead, what would prove to be their largest of the night.

PLNU employed an interesting defensive scheme in the first half, putting all five defenders inside the three-point line and forcing the post-heavy Eagles into taking jump shots. The scheme worked well at the beginning, but Biola's shooters began to get in a rhythm, quickly evening up the score.

Eagle guard Clay Martin came off the bench to hit two quick threes and Biola would run off 11 straight points and take the lead. A layup by Beal ended the drought, but BU would continue to hit shots outside of the paint. The Eagles led by three with a minute to play in the first half, but got two layups from speedy point guard Marlon King to stretch the halftime lead to 34-27.

In the second half, BU got into more of a groove and began the half on an 11-2 run. PLNU would eventually cut the lead to nine, after Beal hit a three with 10:38 to play, but the Eagles quickly answered and built the lead back to 16.

The Sea Lions made one last comeback attempt, scoring seven unanswered points to cut the lead to nine once again. Beal scored with five minutes to play, making the score 58-49 Biola. The Eagles would take control from that point though, hitting free throws down the stretch to seal the deal.

Danny Campbell led Biola with 22 points, while Josh Miller added 17. King finished with 13 points and eight assists. The Eagles shot 53 percent from the field on the night, despite being outscored in the paint, a rarity for them.

The Sea Lions fall to 5-14, 2-9 in the GSAC. Biola improves to 20-1, 10-1 in the conference, putting them all alone in first place after Concordia was upset at San Diego Christian on Tuesday.

PLNU is back in action on Saturday night in Fullerton as they take on Hope International (4-15, 0-10). The Sea Lions defeated the Royals 78-61 on January 2nd.

-J. Wood