SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma men's basketball team scored the first nine points of the game and never looked back in a 77-51 rout of Cal State Los Angeles in a non-conference contest on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
 
This was the third win of the young season for Point Loma over a California Collegiate Athletic Association opponent. PLNU is now 6-1 on the season as CSULA fell to 2-4.
 
Point Loma had a very balanced scoring attack with four starters in double-figures, and six student-athletes with seven or more points. Junior Morgan led all scorers with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Marek Klassen also posted five 3-pointers to record his 15 points. He has now hit a 3-pointer in 36 straight games. Hayden Lescault and Sam Okhotin also came through with 11 points apiece. Lescault added four assists and four steals. Randall Jackson and Zach Burnham each came off the bench with seven and eight points, respectively.
 
"I thought we got back to having a really good balance tonight," said Point Loma head coach Bill Carr. "The ball was moving and we played as team, which was really nice to see."
 
The scoring balance was a key in the victory for the Sea Lions, but it was also their ability to put the game away early that was the deciding factor tonight. PLNU scored the first nine points of the game, as Klassen hit a pair of 3-pointers and Morgan made an and-1 basket in the first three minutes of the game. The Sea Lions would push that lead to 14 points (34-20) at halftime. PLNU put any thoughts of a Golden Eagles' comeback away right at the start of the second half as the Sea Lions went on a 15-6 run to push their lead to 23. They would go on to lead by as many as 33 points in the second half.
 
"We had good execution and were getting the ball to the open guy (in the second half)," Carr explained. "When you can do that and guys can make shots you'll have lots of success.
 
"I thought we can out with some urgency and some passion tonight," continued Carr. "We wanted to be better tonight than we were the first six games of the year."
 
The Sea Lions shared the ball very well with assists on 14 of their 25 baskets. On the other side of the ball, they forced CSULA into 19 turnovers and the Golden Eagles had assists on just six of their 21 baskets. PLNU limited CSULA to 1-of-8 from 3-point range to outscore the Golden Eagles by 21 points from behind the perimeter.
 
"Defensively we were pretty good tonight," Carr said. "We had energy, were in the gaps and found their shooters. There were no complaints defensively."
 
Fans in attendance were treated to a special halftime performance by the ZOOperstars. Sea Lions' fans got the chance to see the fabulous comedy act featuring LeBronco James, Shaquille O'Seal, Deion Salamanders and Mackerel Jordan.  
 
Point Loma will return to Pacific West Conference play this Saturday (Dec. 13) when it hosts longtime rival Azusa Pacific at 4:00 p.m.
 
"That game with Azusa Pacific will be fun," noted Carr. "Playing APU is always a fun time."