SAN DIEGO - Josh Rodriguez scored 24 points and the Point Loma men's basketball team used a 10-0 run to start the second half to defeat Bethesda 78-71, and earn coach Bill Carr his 200th career victory (Jan. 26).
 
This was the sixth straight win for PLNU, which improved to 11-7 with the victory. The loss drops the Flames to 4-16 on the season.
 
The Sea Lions used an 18-point advantage from behind the arc to separate themselves from Bethesda as the game went along. PLNU hit 11 3-pointers, and the Sea Lions were 6-of-11 from deep in the second half. Five student-athletes hit at least one 3-point shot.
 
Rodriguez had three 3-pointers, six rebounds and six assists to go with his 24 points. He was 11-of-14 from the charity stripe. Chad Watkins and Tanner Lancona also hit three treys apiece to score 15 and 16 points, respectively. Mike Planeta was a force on the glass with a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
David Jelks led the Flames with 18 points and seven rebounds. He was 8-of-16 from the field and helped BUC outscore PLNU in the paint 38-18.
 
PLNU was down 32-31 at halftime. The Sea Lions came out on fire in the second half and outscored Bethesda 10-0 in a two minute stretch to go on top 41-32. PLNU would never surrender the lead. BUC cut the Sea Lions' lead to 61-59 with just under five minutes to go but Jack Langborg made a critical 3-pointer and Point Loma hit 10-of-13 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
 
"We hit some shots and got some stops early (in the second half) to get us rolling, but give credit to Bethesda," said PLNU head coach Bill Carr. "They played hard tonight and gave us everything we could handle and more. But our guys came out in the second half with a little more energy and a little more pride.
 
"We are learning to win and this is a better test for us in a close game," Carr continued. "This will help us down the road. We are starting to come out on top in some of these close games. The growth of this team will now be to get a lead and maintain that lead."
 
When the clock hit 0:00 it not only gave the Sea Lions their 11th win of the season, but it also gave coach Carr his 200th victory. Carr has a career record of 200-125 (.615 winning%) in his 11 years as a head coach. Carr has been with the Sea Lions for the past five seasons, but prior to coming to PLNU he also had stops as a head coach at Spring Hill and UC San Diego, in addition to many stops as an assistant or associate head coach.
 
"I want to thank all my former and current players, current staff and my former assistants for helping me get to 200 wins," said Carr. "I have had very good people and players around me and it has been special."
 
This was the first of a four-game homestand for the Point Loma men's basketball team. Their next game will be this Saturday, Jan. 30 at 4:00 p.m. against BYU-Hawaii. 
 
"We are going to have to play hard and physical on Saturday" added Carr. "It is a conference game and it is a game that both teams need the win. Those are fun games to play in."