SAN DIEGO - Five Sea Lions scored in double-figures as the Point Loma men's basketball team opened the Thanksgiving Classic with a 75-68 victory over Davenport.
 
Josh Rodriguez paced PLNU with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Tanner Nelson added 12 points and Preston Beverly posted 11 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Sterling Somers added 10 points, and Skyler White came off the bench to register 10 points and three blocks. Davenport's Delano Smith had 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting to lead all scorers.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (5-3), Davenport (4-2)
 
The Turning Point
Point Loma opened the game on an 11-2 run and would never lose the lead. DU tied the game up a few times and cut the lead to one (64-63) with 4:19 remaining, but PLNU answered with a 9-0 run over the next 3:36 to seal the game.
 
Words from Coach Looney
On PLNU sharing the ball: "It has been a little struggle to get all our guys on the same page this year. Some of that was expected with so many new faces, and our returners are learning to play with more talented teammates. Tonight was the most unified we have been all year, and I was happy with the grit we showed, especially down the stretch against a good team."
 
On PLNU's 18 assists: "Every day we stress that we are better when we share the ball. Hopefully this is something that will help our guys understand that."
 
On the nine blocks: "In some of our recent games we thought we needed to guard the 3-point line really well to win. Tonight, we played a physical, driving team, and we couldn't let them beat us with 2-pointers. The help we gave tonight, especially from our big men, was much better tonight than early in the year."
 
On making more free throws than opponent attempts: "There are some key things I want to get accomplished every year in order to have a successful season and making more free throws than your opponent takes is one of them."
 
On quick turnaround: "We are going to play an entirely different team in Simon Fraser. I was impressed by them today. I think this is the best Simon Fraser team I've seen in all my years."
 
News and Notes
> This was the third straight win for Point Loma
> This was the fourth of six straight home games for the Sea Lions
> Skyler White scored double-figures in back-to-back games for the first time as a Sea Lion
> This was the first-ever meeting between PLNU and Davenport
> Point Loma has won the rebounding battle in all eight games this season
> The plus-3 on the glass was the Sea Lions smallest margin to win the rebounding battle this season
> Point Loma was 25-of-36 at the free throw line. Davenport was 15-of-19
> PLNU had assists on 18 of its 20 baskets
> Davenport outscored PLNU on points in the paint, 38-20
 
Up Next
The Point Loma men's basketball team will continue at the Thanksgiving Classic Tournament tomorrow (Nov. 24). PLNU will face Simon Fraser at 7 p.m.