SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Going into the road trip, the Point Loma men's basketball team was still searching for its identity, but after two lockdown performances, this team knows its calling card is on the defensive end.
 
Tonight, PLNU held PacWest foe Academy of Art to just 60 points to claim a 64-60 victory on the road. This was the seventh straight game, and fourth to begin PacWest play, that the Sea Lions have held their opponent below 70 points.
 
Despite the strong defensive effort, PLNU needed a late comeback to earn their second straight PacWest win as it trailed by three (59-56) with less than 2:30 remaining. After that point, the Sea Lions held the Urban Knights without a basket the rest of the way and outscored them 8-1. Point Loma hit all six of its free throws down the stretch and did not allow ARTU to make any of its final five attempts from the field to fuel its run.
 
Sterling Somers led Point Loma with 17 points (6-of-9). Preston Beverly came off the bench with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Josh Rodriguez and Ziggy Satterthwaite added 10 points apiece. Cole Morgan paced ARTU with 17 points and six rebounds.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (8-5, 2-2 PacWest), Academy of Art (3-8, 2-3 PacWest)
 
The Turning Point
The Sea Lions trailed at halftime and nearly the entire second half before taking the lead for good in the final two minutes. The Sea Lions' 8-1 run turned a three-point deficit into a four-point win. This was one of the first stretches of the game that the offense and defense were in-sync.
 
Words from Coach Looney
On team's defense: "We are playing consistently well on that end of the floor, both with our defense and our rebounding."
 
On limiting opponent 3-point shooting: "From the very beginning of the year we tried to emphasize using our length to contest all shots. Our guys have been doing a very good job of that."
 
On defense keeping PLNU in the game: "I think we are just trying to hang our hat on our defense and our rebounding, knowing that on nights like tonight when we aren't shooting the ball well, we can still give ourselves a chance to win it at the end."
 
On the late comeback: "I thought we played with a lack of discipline the first 37 minutes, but in the last three we were very good."
 
On momentum of the win: "Any road win when it is all said and done is huge. This was big for us because it gives us a little momentum going into break. It should also give us confidence going into the second half of our season."
 
News and Notes
> Satterthwaite's has scored in double-figures in five straight games
> Point Loma's has held conference opponents to just 13-of-63 from 3-point range (20.6%)
> Both teams combined to assist on just 16 of the 43 baskets in the game
> ARTU's bench outscored PLNU's 28-10 (all 10 from Beverly)
> Point Loma, which ranks second in the country in rebounding margin, has won the rebounding battle in all 13 games this season
 
Up Next
The Point Loma men's basketball team will have a competition hiatus until Dec. 30 when it continues PacWest play at Dixie State. The game will tip at 2:30 p.m. (PST)