Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Point Loma men's basketball team gave undefeated No. 18 California Baptist a scare on the road but the Lancers' defense came through late to hand PLNU the 71-63 loss on Monday, Jan. 20.

This was another close loss for Point Loma (10-7, 5-6 PacWest) in Pacific West Conference play. PLNU has lost its six conference games by a combined 24 points, its eight-point loss against CBU as its largest margin of defeat. Cal Baptist (16-0, 10-0 PacWest) has won its first 16 games, including 10 straight in the PacWest, to open up the 2013-14 season.

Point Loma opened the game on a dunk by AJ Ussery and carried that lead through till halftime where they led 33-29. CBU scored the first four points of the second half to tie up the game. The teams would then trade baskets with neither holding more than a five-point lead (46-41) when Malcolm Collins hit a jumper for PLNU with 11:27 remaining.

PLNU was still up four points (53-49) with 7:29 left before Cal Baptist made its run. The Lancers scored 15 of the next 19 points to turn a four-point deficit into a seven point lead with just 1:11 remaining. During the run CBU was 6-of-8 from the field and PLNU committed five turnovers.

The Sea Lions would not go away however, and cut the Lancers' lead to four points on (65-61) a Hayden Lescault 3-pointer with 32 seconds left. PLNU would play the foul game the rest of the way but CBU went 6-of-8 at the charity stripe in the final 26 seconds to earn the win.

Junior Morgan led PLNU with 17 points. AJ Ussery added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Hayden Lescault had five assists to go along with 11 points.

Kevin Crabb posted a double-double for Cal Baptist with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He also had three blocks. Chris Brown paced the Lancers with 17 points and five steals, and Ryan Berg added 13 points.

California Baptist outscored Point Loma 42-30 in the second half and held a 17-5 edge in points off turnovers to edge PLNU in this tight PacWest battle. The Lancers shot 56 percent in the final 20 minutes compared to 36 percent for the Sea Lions.

Point Loma will now return home to host Dixie State (14-2, 8-2 PacWest) on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4:00 p.m. The game will be a free event as it will be part of the Superfest event that takes place annually on the campus of PLNU.