IRVINE, Calif. – So close. Six-seed Point Loma Nazarene was so close to defeating 2-seed Azusa Pacific in a Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal match on Saturday and so close to an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament.

It wasn't to be.

Point Loma led the semifinal tilt held at top-seed Concordia by as much as 18 points but could not fend off a frantic Cougar rally, losing 57-55. PLNU ends the year with a 15-16 overall record.  NAIA seventh-ranked APU improved to 28-4 and will play the winner of tonight's Concordia/ Fresno Pacific semifinal for the tournament title on Tuesday.

“I am so proud of the guys,” said PLNU coach Ethan Hamilton. “To have gone what we have gone through this year and to be a shot away from winning and reaching the national tournament is amazing. We took great strides this year and got the most of what we had.”

Azusa Pacific put in the first points of the game – a three pointer by Danny Nugent, but the Sea Lions scored the next 12 points to take control early on. PLNU's lead grew to 10 at 11:55 and 16 at the break.

An improbable score at halftime had the Sea Lions in the lead 34-18. At that point the Cougars were shooting just 16.7 percent, making just five field goals.

“It was the best half we played all year,” Hamilton stated.

The gap grew to a game-high 18 points after a Greg Murray layup opened the second stanza of play. APU scored the next seven points, however. Point Loma still maintained a double-digit advantage at the 8:29 mark but the Cougars had the momentum.

With five minutes remaining the Sea Lions led by just three. Azusa tracked down Point Loma at 3:12, tying the contest at 48-48. The Cougars then took their first lead since the opening bucket of the game and pushed their margin to three points at 1:59.

Wil Bush sank a much-needed three to even the score once again, this time at 51-51. Caleb Burgess drained a trey, though, to give APU the lead for good.

The Sea Lions had one last chance for the win, but a last-second three by Rhett Beal rimmed in and out.

“We ran the play perfectly,” said Hamilton. “Rhett had a good look at a three, but it didn't happen. Maybe we got a little tired in the second half. I don't know, but we played as hard as we could the entire time. That's all I can ask for.”

As was the case earlier in the regular season when PLNU lost to APU in double overtime, the Sea Lions just did not make enough shots. Point Loma was good on just 5-of-25 from beyond the arc, and really hurt themselves with a poor 8-for-17 showing at the free throw line.

Murray paced the team with 15 points. Beal finished with nine points and nine boards. Robbie McDaniel had nine points and six rebounds.

Marshall Johnson led APU with 14 points, followed by 12 from Reggie Owens.

Due to the fact that CUI is the regular season GSAC champs, it already was an automatic qualifier for nationals. Since the GSAC gets two automatic berths, if PLNU could have hung on against APU, the Sea Lions would have earned the other NAIA tournament bid because Concordia also defeated Fresno Pacific Saturday.

That scenario is mute now, however.

“I'm a little disappointed,” said Hamilton. “It was a tough loss. But I am really proud of all the guys, especially our seniors. Robbie McDaniel changed the culture of PLNU basketball. He was an animal tonight and played hard every night. DeAndre Jones brought character and leadership from the minute he got here. Both of them will be missed.”