This week
The Point Loma men's basketball team will host Biola and Hawaii Pacific in a pair of PacWest contests. The Eagles will be in town on Thursday, Jan. 11 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff, and then on Saturday, PLNU will host Hawaii Pacific on ESPN in a rematch of the 2016-17 PacWest Championships. That game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
 
PLNU hosts HPU on ESPN
PLNU will welcome in ESPN on Saturday when the Sea Lions face Hawaii Pacific. Point Loma was selected for two of the 26 games men's and women's basketball games that will be streamed live on ESPN3 during the 2017-18 season as part of the NCAA DII Basketball Showcase. For more info on the NCAA DII Showcase, click here.
 
Follow along
If you are unable to attend this week's game, or any PacWest games this season, they will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video. Live stats will be free of charge while PLNU home games are $8.95 on a pay-per-view basis. Users with a WatchESPN affiliated TV or internet provider must authenticate to gain access to live ESPN networks, events and replays, including these games. Users accessing WatchESPN or the ESPN App via an on-campus or U.S. military network receive complimentary access to the content. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday.
 
A look at the Sea Lions
Point Loma has won five of its last six games to brings its record to 11-6 and to 5-3 in the PacWest. It had its five-game home winning streak snapped last week by California Baptist to fall to 5-2 at home this season. The Sea Lions are in sixth place in the PacWest standings.
 
Preston Beverly leads Point Loma in scoring, rebounding and blocks. He is averaging 13.9 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He is eighth in the PacWest in rebounding and fifth in blocks. Josh Rodriguez, as he has throughout his career, is near the top of the PacWest in assists. He is averaging 5.6 dimes per game to rank second in the league, while also ranking fifth in steals (2.33) and seventh in free throw percentage (.797). Additionally, Rodriguez chips in with 10.2 ppg, giving PLNU four student-athletes averaging over 10 points per game. Tanner Nelson (11.8) and Ziggy Satterthwaite (11.1) are also in double-figures.
 
As a team, Point Loma is averaging 71.8 ppg and are shooting .449 percent from the field. It leads the PacWest in scoring defense (66.8 ppg), rebounding margin (11.6) and total blocks (67). The Sea Lions' plus-11.6 rebounding margin ranks them fourth in the country.
 
Awaited rematch
PLNU has had the game against Hawaii Pacific circled on its calendar since falling to the Sharks, 82-73, in the 2017 PacWest Championships. Not only are the Sea Lions hoping for revenge for the loss, they are hoping to prove they are on the same level as HPU which reached a top 10 ranking in Division II last season.
 
PLNU team and player notes
> Point Loma has outrebounded its opponents in 15 of 17 games
> Only Satterthwaite and Stapes have led the Sea Lions in scoring in back-to-back games
> PLNU is 5-0 in conference play when scoring over 60 points
 
Record watch
Josh Rodriguez has put together an impressive first three seasons for the Sea Lions and is climbing up the record books both at PLNU and in the PacWest. Below is a list of his standings in the record books and the next person in front.
PacWest Career Assists: Rodriguez (440) - 1st, Joshua Crum (HNU, 452)
PLNU Career Points: Rodriguez (1097) - 20th, Hayden Lescault (1211)
PLNU Career Assists: Rodriguez (440) - 5th, Josh Sanderson (454)
PLNU Career 3-pointers: Rodriguez (113) - 10th, Mike Planeta (133)
 
A look at the Eagles
Biola is in its first year with the PacWest after starting the transition to NCAA Division II prior to the 2016-17 campaign. The Eagles were on a five-game winning streak entering PacWest play but have failed to pick up a conference win in its seven contests. Biola is currently 6-9 and 0-7 in the PacWest. Trevor Treinen leads the team with 15.9 ppg and 32 made 3-pointers. Levi Auble is putting up 14.2 ppg while pulling down a team-leading 5.9 rebounds per game. Blake Shannon (10.4) also averages in double-figures for the Eagles. As a team, BU is shooting .475 percent from the field and .385 percent from 3-point range. They have been hurt by their performance at the free throw line (.663) and by committing 3.1 more turnovers per game than their opponent.
 
A look at the Sharks
Just like PLNU, Hawaii Pacific has won five of its last six games. The Sharks are 9-5 on the season and 4-2 in the PacWest. HPU also boasts the top scorer in the conference with Niksha Federico. Federico is averaging 24.2 ppg, while shooting .505 percent from the field and .396 percent from 3-point range. He is also grabbing 11.2 rebounds per game to lead the PacWest by over two boards per game. His fellow frontcourt mate, Jonathan Janssen, is also having a great season with 14.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg. Within the PacWest, HPU is leading the league in 3-point percentage and ranks fourth in scoring (79.7). They are also outrebounding their opponents by 6.6 boards and force 13.2 turnovers.
 
Next games
The Point Loma men's basketball team will be on the road next Thursday (Jan. 18) to face Concordia for the second time in just over two weeks. The game will tipoff at 7:30 p.m.