Box Score

AZUSA, Calif. - That win against Azusa Pacific in Pacific West Conference play still eludes the Point Loma men's basketball team. For the third time in four PacWest meetings the Sea Lions have found themselves on the wrong side of a close contest with the Cougars, this time falling 87-84 to APU in double overtime on Saturday, Feb. 22.

For the last two years the Sea Lions have dropped one-point games to APU at home before going on the road later in the season to seek redemption. This time it was PLNU (15-10, 10-9 PacWest) looking avenge its loss on Jan. 17 when APU's Sharif Watson gave the Cougars a 75-74 victory with a layup with 0.4 seconds remaining.

The Sea Lions gave APU a taste of its own medicine just to get the game into overtime as Hayden Lescault hit a game-tying jumper with 34 second left. In the first overtime, PLNU built a six-point lead (75-69) with 1:10 remaining but APU outscored Point Loma 9-3 down the stretch to force a second overtime. PLNU was up three with just four seconds on the clock but APU's Troy Leaf drew the foul on a 3-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws to force another five minutes of play.

The Cougars carried that momentum into the second overtime as Point Loma could not take the lead in the last five minutes. A pair of free throws by Robert Sandoval with 27 second left gave APU a five-point lead (84-79) and looked to be the dagger for the Sea Lions but Judd Wefringer answered with a trey to cut the lead back to two points with 18 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession APU turned the ball over and PLNU had a chance to tie the game but Watson picked off Lescault's pass and Jared Zoller then knocked down a pair of shots at the charity stripe to seal the game. APU was 12-of-14 from the free throw line in the two overtime periods.

Lescault paced four Sea Lions in double-figures with 23 points. AJ Ussery added a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards. Marek Klassen also chipped in with 18 points and Welfringer with 12.

For APU, Troy Leaf led all scorers with 25 points. His backcourt mate, Robert Sandoval also came through with 21 points, including 10 in the two overtime periods. 

Point Loma will now return home to host PacWest-leader California Baptist on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the regular season finale. The Sea Lions will honor its three seniors, Taylor Wetherell, Malcolm Collins and AJ Ussery, with a ceremony prior to the 7:30 p.m. tipoff.