OAKLAND - Trevor Peterson's 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining lifted the Point Loma men's basketball team to a 76-69 comeback victory on the road at Holy Names on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
 
The Sea Lions (7-6, 3-3 PacWest) have posted back-to-back victories to move above .500 for the first time this season. It also marks the second time in just over two weeks that PLNU defeated Holy Names in a PacWest Conference contest (1-12, 0-6 PacWest).
 
Just like the Dec. 17 matchup in San Diego, this one would be a battle from tipoff to buzzer. PLNU scored the first five points of the game, but then yielded an 18-2 run to the Hawks, and it would not see the lead again until the final minutes of the game. PLNU trailed 38-29 at halftime after HNU went 7-of-14 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes. In the second half, the deficit grew to as many as 11, but the Sea Lions stayed within striking distance until they hit their run.
 
Down 60-52 with just under nine minutes remaining, Point Loma put together an 11-3 run to tie the game at 63-63. The two teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes until Peterson broke the 69-69 tie with a 3-pointer from the right wing. It was his only 3-pointer of the game and it put PLNU up 72-69 with 32 seconds remaining. The Sea Lion would get a stop on the ensuing Hawks possession and Tanner Lancona hit four straight free throws to allow Point Loma to end the game on a 7-0 run.
 
"I thought we really struggled defensively for 30 minutes of the game, but I was proud of the way our guys found some grit, battled back and got it done down the stretch," explained Point Loma head coach Ryan Looney. "We have played a lot of close games this year and everyone up to this point we lost, so regardless of who it was against and if it was at home or on the road, it was important to find a way to pull together and grind out this win."
 
Lancona was instrumental in the second half comeback, scoring 17 of his 19 points. He did not miss a shot in the final 20 minutes, going 5-for-5 from the field, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc, and 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Josh Rodriguez added 18 points, seven assists and two steals. Sterling Somers hit double-figures for the fourth straight game with 16 points. The two-time reigning PacWest Freshman of the Week went 7-of-9 from the free throw line in the contest to set career-high for makes and attempts.
 
Free throws were the biggest advantage the Sea Lions had in the game. They made as many free throws (16) as Holy Names attempted, and were 10-of-11 from the charity stripe in the second half. PLNU also had the edge on second chance points, outscoring HNU 16-2 in that area.
 
"Any road win is significant, especially where we are at right now," added Looney. "We are still trying to find ourselves and guys are still trying to fit into certain roles.
 
"We are trying to use (Peterson) as one of our defensive stoppers," continued Looney. "He is one of our seniors and he has played a ton of games in the PacWest over his career, and at the end of the day to win conference games on the road you need your upperclassmen to hit big shots down the stretch like he did."
 
Holy Names' Jason Webster led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Marcelas Perry and Jewels Sanders each chipped in with 11.
 
The Sea Lions will take on Dominican on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. to close out their Bay Area road trip.