SAN DIEGO - The No. 22 ranked Point Loma Sea Lions men's basketball team fell just a little short in its Pacific West Conference opener against Dixie State, 54-49, to suffer their first loss of the season (Dec. 4).
 
The loss snaps the Sea Lions' (5-1, 1-0 PacWest) five-game winning streak, which propelled them into the top 25 in the NCAA Division II rankings (NABC) for the first time in school history. Dixie State (1-0 PacWest) improved to 3-2 on the season with the victory.
 
PLNU began the game flat as Dixie State built a 30-16 lead 15 minutes into the game. The Sea Lions were able to fight back to cut the lead to 30-24 at the half, and even took a two-point lead (41-39) on a 3-pointer by Hayden Lescault with 13:18 remaining. But this was the last scent the Sea Lions would get of the lead.
 
DSC held off every PLNU run and even weathered a fantastic look by Judd Welfringer with 50 seconds left to tie the game. PLNU was trailing by just 3 (52-49) after Welfringer had hit another trey with two minutes to go. PLNU had a chance to tie it, and worked the ball around to Welfringer for an open shot from the corner. His shot was right on-line but the ball caught just a little piece of the rim, and popped out after it looked like it was going through the net.
 
PLNU then elected to play defense straight up. It forced Dixie State's Mason Sawyer into a tough shot at the top of the key, but he made the shot to put the Red Storm up 54-49 with just 19 seconds remaining.  
 
"All the credit in this game goes to Dixie State," said Point Loma head coach Bill Carr. "They came in with a sense of urgency and played very physical to earn a very good road conference win."
 
After the slow start defensively, Point Loma cranked up the intensity for the final 25 minutes of the game, and held DSC to just 24 points in that span.
 
"I thought after that first 15 minutes we guarded very good," explained coach Carr. "Tonight was not about our defense. I thought in the second half we had a lot of good looks from 3 and at the rim. We were getting good shots, but we have to put them in the basket."
 
Welfringer led PLNU with 11 points and six rebounds. He made three 3-pointers. Zach Robbins recorded a double-double for Dixie State with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Point Loma men's basketball team will look to get back in the win column next Wednesday, Dec. 10 when it hosts Cal State LA in a non-conference contest. That night the Zooperstars will also be coming to Golden Gym. For more information on the Zooperstars click here.