SAN DIEGO - In a battle of two of the top teams in the PacWest Conference, it was Azusa Pacific hitting the final basket with 3.3 seconds left to defeat the Point Loma men's basketball team, 57-55, on Saturday, Jan. 20, as part of the Sea Lions' ALS Awareness Games.
 
Point Loma looked good in the first half, and took a 33-27 lead into halftime. However, the second half belonged to the Cougars. APU opened the second half on a 10-3 run to take their first lead of the game. The teams traded baskets back and forth until it was tied at 55-55 with 25 seconds left, and APU had the ball. They ran a high ball screen and were able to find Petar Kutlesic open in the paint for the go-ahead layup. Sterling Somers had a shot to win the game from half court as time expired but his ball fell off the rim.
 
Josh Rodriguez shifted from the role of distributor to scorer today, and paced the Sea Lions with a season-best 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He added four steals and an assist, to bring himself into a tie for the PacWest record for career assists with 452. Ziggy Satterthwaite was the only other Sea Lion in double-figures (11). Skyler White pulled down 10 rebounds to pace the team. Petar Kutlesic registered a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead Azusa.  
 
Team Records
Point Loma (14-7, 8-4 PacWest), Azusa Pacific (14-6, 10-2 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The loss drops PLNU two games back of the pace set by conference leaders Azusa Pacific and Dixie State (10-2). PLNU is in sole possession of fifth in the PacWest.
 
The Turning Point
Azusa Pacific's ability to execute offensively in the final 25 seconds was the difference in the game. PLNU had a chance to get a stop and at the worst force overtime, but that hope was quickly dashed when Kutlesic layed the ball in with 3.3 seconds on the clock.
 
Words from Coach Looney
On the game: "Both teams were not very good offensively today. Their size really affected us, and we gave up 16 offensive rebounds. That was the difference in the game."
 
On the final play: "We didn't give the help we needed to the roller. They got a point-blank layup for the win. But we had a chance with 3.5 seconds left, and we got the ball to the wrong guy."
 
On the low number of assists: "Here for the last month we have done a really good job scoring around the basket. That is where a lot of our assists come from. But tonight because of their length and size we missed a lot of easy ones at the rim."
 
News and Notes
> APU has won five straight games over PLNU
> Nelson has hit a 3-pointer in 16 straight games
> Point Loma had just seven assists on 20 made baskets
> Josh Rodriguez is currently tied with Joshua Crum of Holy Names for the PacWest all-time assist record
> Both teams were dreadful from the free throw line, shooting 43 percent and 61 percent, respectively (APU &PLNU)
 
Up Next
The Point Loma men's basketball team will take the daunting road trip to Hawaii next week. The Sea Lions will face Chaminade on Thursday, Jan. 25 and Hawaii Hilo on Saturday, Jan. 27.