This week
The Point Loma men's basketball team will begin PacWest play this week when it hosts Azusa Pacific on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m., and Dixie State on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 4:00 p.m. Dixie State and APU finished tied for first in the PacWest standings last year.
 
#BeatAPU returns
While it is not a week like in the fall, PLNU Athletics will still be sponsoring the #BeatAPU theme once again at the upcoming games. In the fall, PLNU hosted #BeatAPU Week, and the Sea Lions went 3-0, including picking up a pair of victories under the lights with the soccer teams in PLNU's first-ever outdoor night game. They will attempt to keep that momentum going on the basketball court this Thursday. 
 
Military Night Thursday
PLNU Athletics will also be hosting its first Military Night of the year on Thursday, Dec. 3. The Sea Lions will be honoring all former and active military members, and their admission to the game is free. The first 500 fans in attendance also will received a free PLNU camo logo t-shirt which will be used as part of the in-game recognition.
 
Follow along
If you are unable to attend this week's games, or any home games this season, they will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video. Live stats will be free of charge while video stream will be $8.95 on a pay-per-view basis. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday. The men's basketball game can also be heard on XTRA 1360 AM Fox Sports radio. All PLNU home games, and four select road games, can be heard on XTRA 1360 AM Fox Sports.
 
A look at the Sea Lions
The Point Loma men's basketball team is 4-2 on the season after winning three straight games. The Sea Lions are averaging 77.8 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. Point Loma ranks 18th nationally in field goal percentage and 16th in 3-point percentage. Point Loma is also ranked 21st nationally with 18.3 assists per game.
 
Josh Rodriguez has made an immediate impact with the Sea Lions. He leads the PacWest and ranks seventh in the NCAA with 7.5 assists per game. His 45 assists on the season have him ranked fourth nationally. The freshman point guard is also averaging 13.8 points and 2.67 steals per game while shooting 43 percent from the 3-point line and 83 percent from the charity stripe. He is ranked 23rd nationally in steals.
 
Joining Rodriguez among the PacWest and national leaders is Sam Okhotin. Okhotin is pacing the PacWest and ranked 45th in the country with a 50 percent mark from long range. His 19 made treys rank him third in the conference and 47th in the nation. Okhotin is leading the Sea Lions in scoring this season with 16.0 ppg. The senior has increased his scoring average each season.
 
Tanner Lancona had a big week last week as he twice set career-highs in scoring en route to being named the Sea Lion of the Week. He scored 19 points against Young Harris, and then followed that up with a 26-point effort in a win at Cal State LA. He is averaging 13.5 ppg and is shooting 58 percent from the field.
 
Judd Welfringer gives the Sea Lions a fourth student-athlete averaging double-figures with 10.8 ppg. He is also pacing the team with 6.2 rebounds, and is averaging 3.5 assists per game. The senior is shooting 55 percent from the field and 81 percent at the free throw line.
 
Rodriguez earns PacWest Freshman of the Week-again
For the second time in three weeks Point Loma point guard Josh Rodriguez has been named the PacWest Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week (Nov. 23-29). Rodriguez led Point Loma to a pair of wins, averaging 13.0 points and 8.5 assists per game. He dished out a career-high nine assists against Young Harris, as the Sea Lions scored 80 points on 57 percent shooting. The native of La Habra, Calif. (Sonora HS) then scored a career-high 19 points against Cal State L.A., shooting 3-for-3 from three-point range and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
 
A look at the Cougars
Azusa Pacific is 5-1 this season and will enter the PacWest opener riding a four-game winning streak. APU is averaging 79.0 points per game and are shooting 48 percent from the field. The Cougars' defense is holding its opponents to 63.3 ppg and 40 percent shooting, including just 23 percent from 3-point range. The Cougars have seven student-athletes averaging 8.0 or more points per game. Joey Schreiber and Austin Dyer are pacing APU in scoring with 10.3 and 11.8 ppg, respectively.
 
A look at the Red Storm
Dixie State is 3-3 on the season, but won each of their final two non-conference games. The Red Storm is averaging 75.0 points per game and are shooting 45 percent from the field. DSU has dominated at the free throw line this season as they have made more free throws (111) than their opponents have taken (91). Four student-athletes are averaging double-figures for the Red Strom. Trevor Hill is sixth in the PacWest and paces the team in scoring with 17.2 ppg. Brandon Simister (12.5 ppg), Mark Ogden Jr. (10.8 ppg) and Mason Sawyer (10.7 ppg) are also in double-figures for DSU.  
 
Next week
The Sea Lions will continue PacWest play against the league's newest member, Concordia (CA) on Saturday, Dec. 12. at 7:30 p.m.