SAN DIEGO - For the second time in a week Point Loma and No. 11 California Baptist men's basketball teams found themselves locked in a battle till the final seconds, and just like last game CBU was able to make a few more plays down the stretch to earn a 69-65 victory over the Sea Lions on Saturday (Jan. 24) on Fox Sports.
 
The win helps No. 11 California Baptist (15-2, 9-1 PacWest) bounce back from its only loss of the season, Monday (Jan. 19) at Dixie State. The Lancers have won 11 of their last 12 games. The loss was the third straight for the Sea Lions (13-5, 6-5 PacWest), which had previously not lost back-to-back games all season.
 
Point Loma led 39-36 at the half and went up by as many as nine points with 12:30 left in the second half (57-48) after Sam Okhotin scored eight straight points. He hit is third 3-pointer of the half with 6:58 left to put PLNU 61-54 but this is the last basket the Sea Lions would score.
 
CBU then chipped away at the Sea Lions' lead and took its first advantage since early in the first half on a layup by Ryan Berg with 4:08 left (62-61). The teams then traded leads over the next two minutes until CBU got a pair of free throws from Berg and a 3-pointer by Chris Brown to take a four-point lead (67-63) with just under two minutes left. A pair of free throws by Hayden Lescault cut the lead back to two with 1:21 left and after the Sea Lions got a steal on the ensuing possession they had the chance to tie or take the lead but Judd Welfringer's corner 3-pointer found iron and CBU collected the rebound and made a couple more free throws to secure the win.
 
"We have to make plays (at the end of games)," said Point Loma head coach Bill Carr. "Give CBU credit, they made some plays down the stretch. We made some plays but not enough."
 
Marek Klassen led PLNU with 19 points. He was 6-of-9 from 3-point range and had a team-high five rebounds. Junior Morgan and Sam Okhotin each added 11 points for PLNU. Lescault paced the team with five assists and two steals.
 
After shooting 52 percent in the first half, PLNU shot just 31 percent in the second half. The Sea Lions have shot a lower percentage in the second half in each of their five losses this season.
 
Michael Smith paced CBU with 17 points and eight rebounds. Taj Spencer also added 16 points and seven boards.
 
Over 1,200 fans packed Golden Gym tonight for this Fox Sports televised event.
 
"This was a great opportunity for our team, our players and for Point Loma Nazarene University," Carr said. "We want to thank Fox Sports for this chance."
 
"This was a fun day, fun event and a great battle," continued Carr. "I look forward to doing it again sometime."
 
Point Loma will now head on the road to the Bay Area to face three opponents on Jan. 29-Feb. 2. PLNU will open with Holy Names, and then face Notre Dame de Namur and the Academy of Art.
 
"Every game in this conference is going to be a battle, especially at the top," Carr said. "We have to regroup, get better, go on the road for three games and see where this all shakes out."