This week
The Point Loma men's basketball team is getting its two longest bus trips out of the way this week. After picking up a win at Dixie State on Monday (76-72 ot), the Sea Lions will now travel north to Fresno Pacific for a game on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 4:30 p.m.
 
Follow along
If you are unable to attend this week's games, or any PacWest games this season, they will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video. Live stats and the video stream at FPU will both be free of charge. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday.
 
A look at the Sea Lions
PLNU won back-to-back close games last week to move to 9-7 on the season and even their PacWest record at 5-5. The Sea Lions currently sit ninth in the PacWest standings. The top six teams (not including Concordia) will qualify for the PacWest Championship in Irvine, Calif., on Mar. 3-5. Seven of the Sea Lions' next 10 games will come against teams ahead of them in the standings.
 
As a team, PLNU leads the PacWest with a .498 field goal percentage and ranks second in field percentage defense (.433). The Sea Lions are also atop the league in 3-point percentage (.405) and 3-pointers per game (10.1). Individually, Josh Rodriguez paces the league in assists 6.9 and Tanner Lancona in 3-pointer field goal percentage (.500).
 
Sam Okhotin's 15.6 points per game still leads PLNU. He is shooting .497 percent from the field and .443 percent from 3-point range. Tanner Lancona is leading the team with 5.9 rebounds while averaging 13.4 ppg. Mike Planeta (10.5 ppg) and Judd Welfringer (10.3 ppg) are also in double-figures for the Sea Lions.
 
Rodriguez makes it a half dozen PacWest honors
Make it an even half dozen PacWest Freshman of the Week honors for Point Loma point guard Josh Rodriguez. He earned his latest honor for the week of Jan. 11-17. Rodriguez repeated as the conference's top freshman, averaging 15.0 points, 8.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in two Point Loma wins. He scored 20 points against Holy Names, shooting 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and dished out nine assists. Rodriguez has 11 games with at least six assists on the season. His six freshman of the week honors match that of PLNU women's basketball student-athlete, Roya Rustamzada from the 2014-15 season.
 
A look at the Sunbirds
Fresno Pacific is 8-8 on the season and one game behind PLNU in the PacWest standings with a 4-6 record. FPU has lost two games in a row, and five of their last six. The Sunbirds are 4-2 at home this season. Madison Higgins leads the team and ranks seventh in the PacWest with 16.7 ppg. Roger Paul is right behind him with 16.6 ppg, and ranks ninth in the PacWest. As a team, Fresno Pacific ranks fourth in the PacWest with 86.6 ppg, and have a similar scoring margin as the Sea Lions (1.6). The Sunbirds shoot .464 percent from the field and .380 percent from 3-point range.  
 
Battle of the Dorms on Jan. 26
The Point Loma Athletic Department will host the Battle of the Dorms on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Golden Gym. The Point Loma men's basketball team will take on Bethesda at 7:00 p.m. Show your school spirit with all your fellow hall mates by showing up at the game and getting loud. The dorm with the most school spirit will be crowned the winner at halftime and will win a Chick-fil-A party.

Military Night Returns on Saturday, Jan. 30
PLNU Athletics will host its second Military Night of the year on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2:00 p.m. The Sea Lions will be honoring all former and active military members, and their admission to the game is free. Fans in attendance also will received a free PLNU camo logo t-shirt which will be used as part of the in-game recognition.
 
Westphal recognition night set for Feb. 3
Coach Bill Westphal has been at the helm of the PLNU women's basketball team for the past 17 years, and prior to the season he announced this would be his last year on the bench. Join us on Feb. 3 as PLNU Athletics pays tribute to coach Westphal with a ceremony prior to the game. The Sea Lions will take on Cal State San Bernardino in a non-conference game starting at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact Danny Barnts at dbarnts@pointloma.edu.
 
Next week
The Sea Lions will host a pair of contests next week against Bethesda on Tuesday, Jan. 26, and BYU-Hawaii on Saturday, Jan. 30.