Box Score

LAIE, Hawaii - Marek Klassen scored 19 points and Junior Morgan added 18 points and eight rebounds as the Point Loma men's basketball team made a big run in the second half then held off BYU-Hawaii for a 72-69 win on Friday, Jan. 10.

With the win the Sea Lions close their road trip at 2-1 and move to 10-5 on the season (5-4 Pacific West Conference). BYUH is now 6-6 on the season and 4-2 in the PacWest.

Klassen put together his best game of the New Year as he hit 8-of-12 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers, en route to scoring his game-high 19 points.

AJ Ussery added 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Many of Ussery's baskets came in big moments to help the Sea Lions get the win in a hostile road environment. He knocked down a 3-pointer right before the buzzer to bring PLNU to within one point at the half (32-31). After BYUH hit a 3-pointer to open the second half, Ussery scored six straight points to start the Sea Lions on a 24-3 run which gave them a 17-point lead (55-38).

BYU-Hawaii continued to fight back in front of their home crowd and cut the Sea Lions' lead to one point on a layup by Jerome Harris with 1:20 remaining. From there it would be free throws that proved to be the difference in the game. After a missed a shot by Ussery on the ensuing possession, Morgan was fouled after corralling the offensive rebounded and knocked down both shots to put PLNU back up by three (70-67).

Scott Friel then responded by knocking down both his free throws on the next possession to bring BYUH to within one at 70-69. The Seasiders elected to play defense with a four second differential between the shot and game clocks. It worked out for them as they forced the Sea Lions into a turnover and Friel was fouled with 6.8 seconds remaining.

Friel missed the front-end of a one-and-one which would have tied the game and Hayden Lescault grabbed the rebound on the baseline and got the timeout for PLNU. Coach Bill Carr then go the ball into the hands of Lescault on the inbound and he sank both free throws to put Point Loma up 72-69 with 3.3 remaining.  BYUH's 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark as the Sea Lions prevailed.

Luke Aston led BYUH with 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Friel added 12 points and nine boards, and Harris had 11 points.

Point Loma was able to win on a night in which it was outrebounded by nine (42-33). The Sea Lions turned the ball over just 10 times and shot 47 percent in the game. Lescault had four assists and just one turnover, to go along with his eight points and five rebounds.

The PLNU men's basketball team will return home next week to host Azusa Pacific on Friday, Jan. 17 in its lone game of the week. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.