HONOLULU – Brock Mackenzie hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 39 seconds left and the Point Loma men's basketball team held off multiple attempts by Chaminade to tie the game in the final seconds to claim a 69-67 victory and complete the three-game Hawaii road sweep.
 
Kaden Anderson and Brock Mackenzie each scored 15 points to lead PLNU. All 15 of Mackenzie's points came from 3-point range as he knocked down 5-of-8 shots from behind the arc. Anderson just missed a double-double as he grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds to go along with his three blocks and 15 points. Darnell Robateau added 11 points and six rebounds, while Sterling Somers and Ben Okhotin chipped in with nine points apiece. Chaminade's Tyler Cartaino led all scorers with 25 points.
 
PLNU held the lead for most of the first half but the Silverswords were never more than a few baskets behind. The Sea Lions were up 35-33 at halftime and 43-41 with 13:19 left in the second half. They opened up their largest lead of the game after that with a 5-0 spurt as Noah Stapes hit two free throws and Mackenzie knocked down a trey to make it 48-41 with 12:15 remaining. Chaminade answered right back with an 8-0 run to take the lead (49-48) with just under 10 minutes left.
 
The teams would trade baskets and the lead over the next seven minutes. It looked like PLNU might put it away as Robateau hit two free throws with 3:30 left to extend the Sea Lions' lead to 65-58, but again the Silverswords responded. They went on a 9-1 run and took the lead at 67-66 on a jumper by Kendall Small with 00:48 on the clock.
 
PLNU got the ball past halfcourt and coach Logie then called timeout and drew up a play for Mackenzie. The Sea Lions inbounded the ball to the far corner of the court to Somers and found Mackenzie coming off a pick at the top of the key for the go-ahead 3-pointer (69-67). PLNU proceeded to hold off four potential game-tying shots over two possessions in the final 39 seconds to win their ninth straight game in Hawaii.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (11-3, 7-1 PacWest), Chaminade (7-6, 5-3 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The win moves the Sea Lions to 7-1 in the PacWest. The seven wins are the most in the conference but PLNU trails Concordia (5-0 PacWest) in the loss column and in percentage points. The loss drops Chaminade into a tie with Biola for fourth place in the standings (5-3).
 
Words from coach Matt Logie
On the way PLNU closed the game: "I was proud of the way our guys executed down the stretch. Chaminade is a really good team and we really had to battle to dig this win out. It speaks to the character of our guys and the belief in one another. They made some big plays down the stretch that allowed us to pull it out."
 
On closing the game on the defensive end of the court: "Defense wins championships, and when you can win a game on the defensive end it goes a long way, especially on the road. The percentages say that is the better way to close a game out. We have been improving defensively as the year has gone on, and I was very confident in our ability to do that down the stretch once we got the lead."
 
On Mackenzie's 3-point shooting: "Brock hit some really big shots, especially in the second half. We were able to free him up with some great screening action and he stepped up and made some big-time shots. That is what happens when you put in the work he does. I was very happy for him."
 
On going 3-0 on the road trip: "Every win is important in a conference race, but especially on the road against a really good team like Chaminade that we are playing on the backend of three games in five days. It took a lot of courage and togetherness. I am proud of our guys."
 
On the upcoming homestand: "The last month has been great for us to really lock into our development as a team. It will be exciting to play in front of our fans on campus and hopefully build this momentum."
 
News and Notes
> PLNU has gone 3-0 in Hawaii each of the past two seasons
> The Sea Lions have not lost in Hawaii since February 2017 (9-0)
> Point Loma has won four straight games against Chaminade for the first time in program history

Up Next
PLNU will return home to host Academy of Art on Monday, Jan. 13 in the team's annual Welcome Back Game. Tip-off time for the contest has been moved up to 4 p.m.