Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah - No. 8 Dixie State outscored Point Loma 56-39 over the final 20 minutes to erase a 15-point halftime deficit and earn a 84-82 win on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The win kept the Red Storm undefeated at 7-0 on the season and 3-0 in the PacWest. The loss dropped Point Loma to 6-4 (1-3 PacWest).

Marek Klassen scored 18 points to lead four Sea Lions in double-figures. He hit four 3-pointers and also dished out four assists. Hayden Lescault led PLNU with six assists while scoring 16 points. This was his fifth straight game in double-figures. Junior Morgan paced the team with eight rebounds, while chipping in with 13 points. AJ Ussery also added 12 points.

DeQuan Thompson and Kimball Payne scored 17 points apiece to lead the Red Storm. Dalton Groskreutz and Zach Robbins also added 15 points each.

Point Loma built a 43-28 halftime lead thank to shooting 61 percent from the field and 67 percent behind the 3-point line (6-of-9). Klassen scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half and hit three treys.

Early in the second half PLNU pushed its lead to 17 points on a layup by Morgan but then DSC started to chip away. The Red Storm would take a 64-62 lead on a 19-7 run midway through the second half. The teams would then trade baskets over the next seven minutes. PLNU would recapture the lead at the 1:18 mark on a free throw by Morgan.

Groskreutz answered with a free throw of his own to tie the game at 79-79 with a minute remaining. After a missed 3-pointer by the Sea Lions, Dixie State's Groskreutz missed a jumper but Zach Robbins grabbed the offensive rebound and was foluled. He went to the free throw line and knocked down both shots at the charity stripe to put the Red Storm in front by two with 32 seconds left.

Point Loma tried to answer on its possession but turned the ball over and then fouled Dixie State who knocked down two more free throws with nine seconds remaining. Klassen hit a 3-pointer on the next possession to cut DSC's lead back to one (83-82) but Robbins knocked down 1-of-2 free throws with two seconds left to seal the game.

Point Loma will return to action at home on Saturday, Dec. 21 against Notre Dame de Namur at 4:00 p.m.