FRESNO, Calif. - Marek Klassen's game-high 18 points paced five Sea Lions in double-figures as the Point Loma men's basketball team went on the road to earn their first Pacific West Conference road win with a 93-68 victory over Fresno Pacific on Saturday, Dec. 20.
 
PLNU is now 7-2 on the season and 1-2 in the PacWest. The loss drops FPU (5-5) to 1-3 in conference.
 
The sharpshooter Klassen did his scoring a bit differently tonight as most of his shots came from inside the arc. He went 6-of-10 from the field and also went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. He also handed out a season-best seven assists and had three steals. However, Klassen did manage to hit one of his two 3-point attempts to extend his consecutive game streak with a 3-pointer basket to 38 games.
 
Junior Morgan went 7-of-9 from the field to register 17 points for the Sea Lions as he returned to the city where he played his junior college ball. Judd Welfringer scored 10 of his 14 points after halftime and grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds. Mike Planeta and Zach Burnham each added a season-high with 10 and 12 points, respectively, off the bench. Hayden Lescault matched Klassen with seven assists.
 
"Tonight we didn't care who scored as long as we scored," explained Point Loma head coach Bill Carr. "The ball was moving really well on perimeter and it was going inside out and guys were making their shots."
 
The Sea Lions finished the contest shooting 58 percent from the field (32-of-55), 8-of-15 from 3-point range and 21-of-23 at the free throw line.
 
"The ball was going to where it needed to at the right time," Carr continued. "Guys were taking one less dribble and getting it to the right guy at the right time.
 
"I am just glad we got (to the free throw line) 23 times," Carr added. "It means we were being aggressive and putting the pressure on the defense."
 
PLNU led for over 37 of the 40 minutes in the game as it scored a season-high 93 points, but it was a stretch last in the first half and to open the second that earned the Sea Lions the road win. Point Loma was up just two (34-32) with three minutes left in the first half before closing the period with an 11-4 run which was capped off by the Sea Lions getting a late steals and Welfringer putting in a layup off an offensive rebound as time expire to give PLNU a 45-36 lead at the half.

Point Loma came out in the second half carrying that momentum and increased their lead to 18 points midway through the second half. PLNU did not let up or give Fresno Pacific the opportunity to come back as they kept the offensive assault going to notch their season-high for points. The 48 points for the Sea Lions in the second half was just one off their top scoring mark for a half this season.
 
"We made some plays to get some separation down the stretch in the first half and then we came out at the start of the second half, made some shots and guarded them well to separate more from there," Carr noted.
 
Point Loma had just 10 turnovers in the game compared to 16 for Fresno Pacific. PLNU turned that into a 25-8 advantage in points off turnovers. The Sea Lions also had assists on 24 of their 32 baskets. Bobby Barnes scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead four Sunbirds in double-figures.
 
The PLNU men's basketball team will now take a competition hiatus until Dec. 31 when it will host local rival San Diego Christian starting at 4:00 p.m. The will also be New Years Friends and Family Day at Golden Gym. Children are encouraged to bring their parents for the game and halftime activities designed for children and their parents. 
 
"The break will give us a chance to refresh, take a deep breath and come back focused on some things we need to focus on going into the game against San Diego Christian," Carr added.