box score

VALLEJO, Calif. - Point Loma Nazarene's first game under head coach Bill Carr went as well as could be hoped as the Sea Lions defeated William Jessup Friday evening, 91-62. The 2011-12 season opener was played at California Maritime Academy, the team that PLNU will meet up with next, on Saturday, starting at 7:30 pm.

“It's always nice to win the first one,” Carr said after the game. “I'm happy for the guys. They have worked really hard all fall. I thought they played hard and did a good job of playing together.”

Sophomore guard Marek Klassen led the Sea Lions with 19 points on a 5-of-9 shooting night from the field and a 6-for-6 effort at the line. Klassen was one of five PLNU players who scored at least 10 points in the non-conference tilt.  Rhett Beal had 17 points and seven assists; Todd Campbell and Joshua Richardson each scored 12 and Will Bush added 11.

Beal and Anthony Ussery paced PLNU with six rebounds apiece. Ussery blocked two shots on the night.

Point Loma's defense forced 25 turnovers while offensively the squad shot 55 percent from the field. The Green and Gold was good on 8-of-16 shots from long-range, three treys coming from Klassen and Bush.

PLNU was good on 19-25 from the stripe Friday.

“We shot the ball well and for the first game of the year we defended ok,” said Carr. “We were balanced scoring-wise. No one cared who scored as long as someone from PLNU scored; that's good.”

William Jessup (1-1) was held to a 38 percent shooting night. Marcus Crawford scored 19 points and had seven boards for the Warriors with Preston Brawmow adding 12 points.

Loma led 49-33 at the break and extended its advantage by outscoring William Jessup 42-29 in the second stanza.