LACEY, Wash. - The Point Loma men's basketball team had four student-athletes score in double-figures but a late 13-2 run by Western Oregon was the difference in an 82-76 season-opening loss for the Sea Lions at the PacWest/GNAC Conference Challenge (Nov. 13).
 
Freshman Josh Rodriguez led PLNU with 16 points and five assists off the bench. Judd Welfringer and Sam Okhotin added 14 points apiece. Welfringer was 6-of-7 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Transfer Tanner Lancona led the team with nine rebounds while also adding eight points. Zach Burnham notched 10 points.
 
The Sea Lions never found an answer all night for the Wolves' Tanner Omlid, who scored 28 points in 24 minutes off the bench. He went 13-of-14 from the field with eight rebounds and six steals.
 
PLNU shot 68 percent from the field in the first half but only led 48-42 at the break. The Sea Lions went on an 8-2 run early in the second half to go up by 10 (57-47), and led by as many as 11 but WOU did not go away. The Wolves cut the Sea Lions' lead to four with 10 minutes left and overtook the lead with five minutes remaining. PLNU would never again lead in the contest.
 
Point Loma was hurt by a 21-11 disadvantage in turnovers, which led to Western Oregon outscoring PLNU 24-12 in points off turnovers, including 9-1 in the second half. The Sea Lions stayed in the game, and had the lead most of the time, thanks to their stellar shooting. They ended the game shooting nine percent better than Western Oregon (56 to 47 percent).
 
Point Loma will continue the PacWest/GNAC Conference Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 14 when it faces Saint Martin's at 7:00 p.m.