box score

EL CAJON, Calif. -- Point Loma Nazarene fought off a vicious rally down the stretch, sinking eight straight free throws in the final few minutes to preserve a 68-62 road win over cross-town rival San Diego Christian Tuesday night.
 
Senior Jake Johnston finished a perfect 6-6 from the field to lead all scorers with 19 points as the Sea Lions won their second straight game in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
 
The win upped the Sea Lions' overall mark to 14-6 and are now 7-4 in GSAC play. The Hawks dropped to 5-13 overall, 1-10 GSAC. PLNU is still just one game out of first place in the GSAC standings.
 
Senior Rhett Beal, whose 22 made free throws against Westmont Saturday set a GSAC record and leads the nation at any level this season, finished with just three points but led his team with seven rebounds. Sophomores Hayden Lescault and Marek Klassen added 12 and 10 points respectively.
 
The contest was an impressive display of marksmanship by both sides, with the Sea Lions and Hawks combining to shoot over 54 percent from the field.
 
Not to be taken lightly, the Hawks shocked the Sea Lions out of the gates, scoring the game's first eight points, all in a span of about a minute.
 
“The game plan was there, everything was there,” said Lescault. “We just didn't come out with the fire that we normally come out with.”
 
But the Sea Lions quickly found their stride, marching back to take a 14-12 lead at the 13:30 mark in the first half — a lead that, excluding a few ties, they would keep for good.
 
Though the Green and Gold held onto the lead, the game was a fight until the final buzzer. Every time the Sea Lions started to roll, the Hawks would respond to keep the contest close.
 
The Hawks showed why they lead the GSAC in 3-point shooting percentage, hitting nine of 16 attempts from long range.
 
After the hosts tied the game at 28 on a layup from Johnny Delbene with 5:15 left in the first half, the Sea Lions caught fire, missing just two shots the rest of the frame and forcing four turnovers to enter halftime with a 43-34 lead.
 
Johnston and Klassen led all scorers at the break with 10 points apiece.
 
Following the break, the Hawks began to whittle away the Sea Lions' lead, determined to grab what would have been just their second conference win of the season.
 
Slowly, the Sea Lions let them back into the game, failing to convert on all five of their 3-point attempts in the second half.
 
With just over four minutes remaining, a 3-pointer by Keenan Patterson evened the score at 60, energizing the small but spirited San Diego Christian crowd.
 
On the following possession, Johnston drew a foul and coolly sank both free throws amidst the noise. The Sea Lions then forced a turnover, allowing Beal to get to the line and sink both of his freebies as well, giving his team a 64-60 advantage.
 
The Hawks continued to battle back, but with the Sea Lions leading 64-62, Johnston converted another pair of free throws to put the game out of reach.
 
San Diego Christian scrambled to answer but missed their final four shots, and two free throws from senior Greg Murray set the final score at 68-62, Sea Lions.
 
Arturo Prieto paced the Hawks with 11 points on 4-5 shooting and a game-high four assists.
 
Next up for the Sea Lions is a home contest Saturday against Fresno Pacific University.
 
The day doubles as the first ever Moustache Day. To celebrate senior Wil Bush's outstanding mustache, as well as other historic 'staches, fake mustaches will be handed out to the first 100 fans upon entry. Furthermore, any fan that arrives pre-mustachioed will receive free popcorn.
 
The game will begin at 4:30 pm.