LA MIRADA, Calif. – It was the type of style that the Biola Eagles are famous for: a defensive, grind-it-out game. The Sea Lions seemed just as comfortable in that tempo and nearly pulled off the upset over the NAIA's 12th-ranked squad. In the end, however, it was BU winning Thursday night, 58-51.

PLNU quickly fell behind by 10 points on a couple of occasions in the first half. But just as quickly the Sea Lions closed the gap. At halftime it was Loma trailing by a single point, 30-29.

A Greg Murray jumper to open up play in the second period gave the Sea Lions their first lead of the night, 31-30. A free throw from Eagle Andrew Schroeder and a three from teammate Curtis Eatmon put the momentum on the home team's side.

Biola extended their lead to nine before PLNU bounced back. Not only did the Sea Lions get back into the game, they regained a one-point lead after a trey from the hot-shooting Wil Bush.

With 3:17 left BU's Nate Rakestraw made his first shot of the night – a three pointer – and the Eagles were back on top 48-46. Another Biola bucket was followed by another trey from Bush.

Unfortunately the game's final run would be made by the Eagles (26-4, 16-4) which would outscore the Sea Lions 10-5 over the final minutes and claim the hard-fought victory.

The low score went hand-in-hand with the low shooting percentages: PLNU 29 percent, Biola 35.8 percent.

Bush paced the Sea Lions with 16 points and eight rebounds. Todd Campbell added 13 points in the loss with Rhett Beal scoring nine and pulling in nine boards.

Three Eagles recorded double-doubles: Eatmon (12 points, 11 rebounds), Josh Miller (12 points and 10 boards) and Dwight Gordon (10 and 10).

Point Loma fell to 13-15, 9-10 GSAC and will host Hope International Saturday at 7:30 pm in the final regular season game of the year.

After that game, the sixth-place Sea Lions will get another shot at the Eagles as they will head back up to La Mirada to take on Biola in a first-round GSAC Playoff tilt.