SAN DIEGO - Sam Okhotin scored a career-high 31 points and made clutch shot after clutch shot down the stretch to send the game to overtime, but his effort would be foiled by a 9-0 run and a basket at the buzzer by Hawaii Hilo in OT as the Sea Lions fell at home to the Vulcans, 89-86 (Jan. 9).
 
Point Loma (7-6, 3-4 PacWest) trailed 76-65 with 1:48 remaining when Okhotin got the comeback started with a 3-pointer. He would hit two more treys, and Zach Burnham added two free throws, as the Sea Lions outscored the Vulcans 11-0 down the stretch to send the game to overtime.
 
In the extra period, Point Loma went up 82-76 with layups on their first three possessions. That extended their run 17-0 over a 3:20 stretch. It was then the Vulcans' turn to hit their stride. UHH went on a 9-0 to take back the lead at 85-82 with 38 seconds remaining. Again Okhotin came through in the clutch hitting a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to tie the game at 85-85.
 
"Sam did everything he could to keep us in this game," said Point Loma head coach Carr. "He shot the ball great and almost single-handedly got us to overtime."
 
However, it was the Vulcans (1-9, 1-5 PacWest) which had the ball last in this back-and-forth game.  Jordan Russell got the inbound pass and took his time walking it up the court before pulling up from the top of the key with under a second left and finding nothing but net for the win.
 
Okhotin hit a career-best seven 3-pointers and went 12-of-17 from the field to post his career-high 31 points. He also hauled in five rebounds. Zach Burnham registered his own career-high with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He added a team-leading seven rebounds. Josh Rodriguez posted eight assists, and Judd Welfringer had another seven, as Point Loma registered assists on 22 of its 33 baskets.
 
Russell had 24 points with six 3-pointers to lead five Vulcans in double-figures. Salim Gloyd hit five 3's to score 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Vandyon Lockett stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds and nine assists. UHH ended up hitting 17 3-pointers as a team, and outscored PLNU by 18 points from beyond the arc.
 
"We didn't do a good job all night guarding the 3-point line and that is what eventually got us," Carr added.
 
Point Loma will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 13 with its Welcome Back Game against Concordia (CA). The contest will tipoff at 7:30 p.m.