COSTA MESA, Calif. – Though they struggled late, the Sea Lions led from start to finish in an 83-70 triumph at Vanguard Tuesday night. It was the third straight conference win in as many tries for Point Loma Nazarene who improved to 5-3 overall.

PLNU's defense stifled the Lions, holding VUSC to a 35.4 shooting percentage (23-for-65), though VUSC was shooting in the 20's midway into the second half. Meanwhile, PLNU posted a robust 53.6 percentage. The Green and Gold also enjoyed a big rebound advantage (45-34).

Loma scored the first six points and roared out to a 10-point lead at the eight minute mark. The Lions cut the deficit to four with 3:49 left in the opener but PLNU finished the half on a 9-4 run to go into intermission with a nine-point advantage.

The Green and Gold pushed their lead to 16 by scoring nine of the first two points of the second stanza, capped by a three by Rhett Beal. The Sea Lions kept up the pressure, especially defensively, eventually talking leads of 20 at 12:23 and a game-high 28 midway into the half after a Jake Johnston three pointer.

Vanguard (1-6, 0-3) refused to quit, however. The Sea Lions also went ice-cold for the next few minutes.  In the span of just four minutes the Lions sliced the deficit in half, thanks to a 14-0 run. Johnston made a free throw to stem the VUSC run but a three-point play from Chris Pynch and a trey by William Thompson cut the gap to single-digits.

The Sea Lion lead would dwindle down to just seven points at 2:35. Vanguard would lose their shooting touch down the stretch, though, and PLNU would regain the momentum and win by 13.

Greg Murray paced the Sea Lion attack with 21 points. James Hancock scored 15 with Rhett Beal and Marek Klassen adding 14 and 12, respectively. Hancock led PLNU with eight boards.

Thompson scored 15 points to lead Vanguard. Christopher Raybon and Chris Pynch each scored 13 points.

The Sea Lions host No. 9-ranked Azusa Pacific in Golden Gym Saturday. Tip-off is at 7:30 pm.