[Photo gallery]
AZUSA, Calif. - Point Loma men's basketball overcame a 13-point deficit with under four minutes left in regulation to give Â
Brock Mackenzie the opportunity to hit the game-winner as time expired in overtime, to defeat Biola 98-95 and deliver PLNU its second straight PacWest Championship. (Mar. 8)
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All the momentum was with the Eagles' after Jesse Elrod's 3-pointer with 3:57 left put them up 79-66, but the Sea Lions refused to go away. They quickly scored back-to-back baskets to pull within eight. After a layup by Elrod put Biola back up 10 (81-71) with 2:55 remaining, PLNU would go on a 10-0 run the rest of the way to force overtime.
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The run began with a 3-pointer by
Josh Caston followed by a pair of free throws from Mackenzie.
Sterling Somers then hit an and-1 layup to cut the lead to two (81-79) with 1:37 on the clock. PLNU proceeded to stop Biola on consecutive possessions, before
Darnell Robateau drove the lane, got fouled and knocked down two free throws with 31 seconds left to tie the game at 81-81. Both teams would miss potential game-winning shots in the final 10 seconds, and the contest went to overtime.
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In the extra period, both teams exchanged baskets for the first four minutes until a pair of free throws by Chris Rossow put Biola up 93-92. PLNU called timeout and ran an out-of-bounds play for Mackenzie. He came open at the top of the key and knocked down his eighth 3-pointer of the game to give the Sea Lions the two-point lead (95-93). Rossow was able to draw a foul on the next possession and convert both free throws to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining.
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Once again coach
Matt Logie called on No. 11
Brock Mackenzie for the big shot. Robateau dribbled the ball to the left-wing and got the ball in Mackenzie's hands. He gave a quick fake to his right before taking one dribble to his left. He pulled up from '3' and hit the game-winner off the glass with a defender draped all over him as his teammates rushed the floor and dogpiled on him.
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Mackenzie, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the PacWest Championships, finished with a career-high 34 points. He went 11-of-23 from the field, including 9-of-17 from 3-point range. He scored 54 points in the tournament and hit 15 shots from behind the arc.
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Point Loma also got help from
Kaden Anderson who poured in 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
Sterling Somers posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Noah Stapes also came off the bench to register 10 points and six rebounds. Alex Wright led Biola with 28 points, and Rossow added 23.
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For the second game in the championships, the Sea Lions started slow. They fell behind 15-8 before fighting back to tie the game at 20-20. After the teams exchanged baskets, PLNU would go on a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the half at 32-24. However, the Eagles had another first-half run in them and were able to go up 37-34 before Mackenzie hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the halftime score at 37-37. That was just one of the many big shots the sophomore would hit in the game.
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Team Records
Point Loma (24-6), Biola (19-12)
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Turning Point
Right went Point Loma could have folded with four minutes left in regulation and down 13, the Sea Lions put together one of their most impressive stretches of the season. They outscored Biola 15-2 down the stretch to force overtime and allow Mackenzie to hit the shot that will forever be remembered in the history books of Point Loma men's basketball.
Words from coach Matt Logie and the student-athletes
News and Notes
> Point Loma has played in three of the last four PacWest Championships
> PLNU is now 20-1 this season when scoring 73 or more points
> Mackenzie went 15-of-26 from 3-point range in the tournament
>
Kaden Anderson and
Brock Mackenzie were each named to the all-tournament team (Mackenzie MVP)
> Mackenzie's previous career-high was 28 points
> Mackenzie's 34 points are the second-highest total ever in PacWest tournament history
Up Next
PLNU will now await its seeding for the upcoming NCAA West Regional, which is expected to be hosted by UC San Diego. PLNU was No. 6 in the last regional poll. They will find out their final seeding during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, Mar. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The selection show can be watched on
NCAA.com.
Video recap