ST. GEORGE, Utah - It took an extra five minutes and a fortunate bounce but the Point Loma men's basketball team came out of the desert with a 76-72 victory, for their first ever win over Dixie State at Burns Arena.
 
The Sea Lions (9-7) evened their record in PacWest play at 5-5 as they moved into seventh place in the PacWest Conference standings. The loss dropped Dixie State to .500 on the season (7-7) and to 4-4 in the PacWest.
 
Point Loma was up 29-26 at halftime and led the entire second half, going up by as many as 14, but Dixie State clawed its way back into the game and took a one-point lead on a layup by Trevor Hill with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Trevor Lancona answered for PLNU as Josh Rodriguez founded him open for  3-pointer in the corner which he buried with 14 seconds left to put PLNU in front by two. Dixie State went for the win with four seconds left but Mason Sawyer's shot went long, and Hill collected the offensive rebound, and put it in with 0.9 seconds left to tie the game.
 
In overtime, the teams traded baskets until Rodriguez stole the ball and converted a layup to put Point Loma in front by two with 24 seconds left. Hill was fouled on the ensuing possession but made just one of two free throw attempts and Mike Planeta answered by making both his to put Point Loma up three. The Sea Lions fouled on the next possession and Hill sunk the first free throw to cut the lead to two. He then slyly received the ball from the officials and quickly shot the ball, going for the missed free throw. His plan worked perfectly and his teammate Josh Fuller reacted before anyone else on the floor. Fuller caught the ball in the air as it was coming off the rim and had the point-blank putback shot but he pushed it a little too hard and the ball rolled off the back of the rim where Judd Welfringer collected the rebounded. He would go on to make all four free throws in the final six seconds to seal the game for Sea Lions.  
 
"Our guys were really good at controlling the tempo tonight," said Point Loma head coach Bill Carr. "Our experience of being in so many close games really helped us. We got big stops when we needed to and the guys stepped up to make big shots late. This is a good win for this team, and for our program."
 
Point Loma had five student-athletes in double-figures, and another with nine points. Mike Planeta led the team with 15 points and has stepped up as a leading scorer from outside for Point Loma in the past two games. Today 5-of-9 shooting with three 3-pointers, and also had five assists.
 
Zach Burnham had 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while hauling in a team-high seven rebounds. Josh Rodriguez and Tanner Lancona added 13 points apiece, and Jack Langborg came off the bench to score his career-high 12 points on four 3-pointers during the first half. Welfringer also had nine off the bench.
 
"We had good balance scoring tonight," Carr added. "It is great to see so many guys in double-figures.
 
As a team, Point Loma outrebounded Dixie State 42-33, which was a significant improvement after losing the rebounding battle 55-34 in their previous contest. PLNU outshot DSU 48 percent to 34 percent in the game, and outscored them by 21 points from behind the arc.
 
Brandon Simister had 20 points off the bench to lead four student-athletes from Dixie State in double-figures. Trevor Hill added 19 points and seven rebounds. He was 11-of-13 at the free throw line, and started 9-of-9 but missed two in the final seconds of overtime.
 
"We have to keep improving, and steal some wins on the road, while holding serve at home," the fifth-year head coach explained. "That is what you have to do in conference play."
 
Point Loma will go on the road to face Fresno Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.