Final Record: 17-13
Final PacWest Record: 11-9 (sixth place)
Postseason: PacWest Championships (second place; won two, lost in championship)
PLNU stats: www.plnusealions.com/mbbstats

Run to the title game: The 2016-17 season was filled with ups and downs for the PLNU men's basketball team, but it ended on a high note. The Sea Lions received the No. 6 seed in the PacWest Championships, and won their first two games in the tournament on last-second shots to earn the school's first-ever appearance in the title game. PLNU opened up the tournament with a 71-69 win over No. 3 seed Dixie State on Skyler White's last-second tip-in. Point Loma then upset No. 2 seed, California Baptist, 72-69, on a 3-pointer from Mike Planeta. 
 

	Conf.		Overall
Final Standings	Rec.	Win%	Rec.	Win%
Hawaii Pacific	18-2	.900	29-3	.906
California Baptist	17-3	.850	26-5	.839
Dixie State	16-4	.800	19-9	.679
Chaminade	13-7	.650	18-11	.621
Concordia	13-7	.650	17-11	.607
Point Loma	11-9	.550	17-13	.567
Azusa Pacific	11-9	.550	16-15	.516
Dominican	9-11	.450	10-16	.385
Hawaii Hilo	8-12	.400	10-16	.385
Fresno Pacific	7-13	.350	7-20	.259
Academy of Art	6-14	.300	7-19	.269
Holy Names	5-15	.250	6-22	.214
BYU-Hawaii	4-16	.200	6-20	.231
Notre Dame de Namur	2-18	.100	4-22	.154

In the spotlight: With the TV cameras on and California Baptist University celebrating their final game in Van Dyne Gym, the Point Loma men's basketball team went on the road and stunned the No. 5 team in the country, defeating them 77-71, with a stellar comeback victory televised on Fox Sports. PLNU outscored the Lancers 23-7 in the final six minutes, including a 12-2 run in the final 3:09. The final blow came from Mike Planeta, who knocked down a 3-pointer in the corner, off a pass from Josh Rodriguez, to secure the victory and close down Van Dyne with a loss for the Lancers.
 
New regime: Even with all the success this season, there is even a greater level of excitement growing inside Sea Lion fans, as they know this all happened in coach Ryan Looney's first year with the team. He saw his team improve throughout the season and reach the pinnacle of its play during the PacWest Championships, but fans know there is even more in store.
 
Somers named PacWest Freshman of the Year: Another factor in Sea Lions fans' growing expectations was the emerging of PacWest Freshman of the Year, Sterling Somers. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while totaling 31 assists and 17 steals. He notched his first-career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against Hawai'i Hilo, and scored a career-high 22 points at Chaminade. Somers is the second-consecutive Sea Lion to win PacWest Freshman of the Year, joining teammate Josh Rodriguez. He earned honorable mention All-PacWest.
 
Rodriguez earns All-PacWest: For the second straight season, Josh Rodriguez was named to the All-PacWest second team. Rodriguez, a sophomore point guard from La Habra, Calif. (Sonora HS), averaged 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and a PacWest-leading 5.7 assists per game. He ranked 11th in the PacWest in steals (1.47) and 14th in scoring. He scored in double-figures in 24 of 30 games, topping the 20-point plateau on six occasions.
 
Trending: They say one time happens and twice is a coincidence, but after three times it is a trend, and Sterling Somers was definitely trending during the middle of the season when he earned three straight PacWest Freshman of the Week awards between Dec. 14-Jan 9. He posted a string of six-consecutive double-digit scoring performances, averaging 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds.
 
Two earn all-tourney: For helping lead Point Loma to the PacWest Championship game, Josh Rodriguez and Mike Planeta were each named to the PacWest All-Tournament Team. Rodriguez averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the tournament. He had a double-double against Dixie State with 22 points and 10 assists, while also going 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Planeta averaged 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. He was 9-of-21 from 3-point range, including the game-winner against CBU.
 
Planeta reaches the record books: Mike Planeta needed every one of those 3-pointers to reach the record books, as he knocked assistant coach Wil Bush out of the No. 10 spot on the school's all-time list. Planeta recorded 133 treys in his four-year career to take over the final spot in the Sea Lions' record books.
 
Among the nation's elite: Josh Rodriguez continued to be one of the best assist-men in college basketball during his sophomore campaign. In addition to leading the PacWest in assists, Rodriguez was also ranked among the nation's elite. He ranked 18th in NCAA Division II with 5.7 assists per game and was 19th in total assists (172).
 
PLNU honors its own: Head coach Ryan Looney and his staff also named their own team awards at the team banquet. The new coaching staff expanded the list from years past. Josh Rodriguez was voted the team's Jim Bond Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row, and Yusuf Shehata earned the team's Sportsmanship award, along with the Deon Richard PR Award. Mike Planeta and Trevor Peterson shared the Jason Mackenzie Captains Award. Peterson also took home the Josh Sanderson award for Most Improved Player. Skyler White captured the Ben Foster Rebound Award and Sterling Somers earned the Chalmer Cartwright Coaches Award.
 
Senior sendoff: The Sea Lions said goodbye to five seniors this season in a ceremony prior to its final regular season home game against Azusa Pacific on Feb. 9. Trevor Peterson and Mike Planeta were each four-year letterwinners for the Sea Lions. Zach Burnham was a three-year member of the team after transferring in from Coppin State. Tanner Lancona and Emerson Castaneda played for PLNU during their final two years of eligibility.

Returning Sea Lions: Point Loma will bring back nine student-athletes in 2017-18, including both All-PacWest selections. All-PacWest point guard Josh Rodriguez will be back, along with PacWest Freshman of the Year, Sterling Somers. Skyler White and Cameron Gilbert will be back to patrol the middle. Also returning will be junior Jack Langborg, sophomores AJ Elliot and AJ Firey, along with redshirt Noah Stapes.
 
Looney on the job:  Coach Ryan Looney went 17-13 in his first season at PLNU and is now 276-119 in his 13-year coaching career.  He earned 20-plus wins for 10 straight seasons prior to this year, and led PLNU into its first-ever PacWest Championship game.