SAN DIEGO - A night after suffering their first loss in over a calendar year, the No. 9 Point Loma men's basketball team responded with an 80-66 victory over Biola.
 
The Sea Lions began the game on fire, quickly jumping out to a 12-3 lead and going into halftime with a 48-24 advantage. They hit 9-of-16 shots from behind the arc in the opening period and had just one turnover. Meanwhile, Biola turned the ball over 10 times and PLNU took advantage of those mistakes to outscore them 15-0 in points off turnovers.
 
The second half got a little scary when the Eagles hit nine of their first 10 shots, including 6-of-6 from long range. They would continue to chip away at the Sea Lions' lead until they cut it to five (62-57) with just under eight minutes to play. After exchanging baskets over the next four minutes, PLNU went on a 9-1 run to extend their six-point lead to a 14-point advantage (78-64) with just over a minute left. The Sea Lions fueled their run at the free throw line. Kaden Anderson hit four straight free throws to push the lead back to 10 and Myles Franklin went 3-of-4 from the charity stripe in the final minutes. Nine of the Sea Lions' final 11 points came at the free throw line.
 
Brock Mackenzie finished the contest with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Myles Franklin poured in a career-high 21 points as he and Mackenzie each hit four 3-pointers. Anderson added 17 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Luke Haupt led the team with six assists and four steals. Michael Bagatourian paced Biola with 16 points and seven rebounds.
 
Team Records
#9 Point Loma (6-1, 5-1 PacWest), Biola (7-2, 7-1 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The win moves Point Loma back into first place in the PacWest SoCal Pod standings as they are one game up on Biola in the loss column.
 
Turning Point
While the Sea Lions' strong first half put them in a position to win, it was a broken play with 3:07 remaining in the game that helped PLNU regain momentum and close the game. Kaden Anderson lost the ball on the wing and Biola's Maximo Milovich dove into his legs for the loose ball, fouling Anderson in the process. It sent him to the line for two free throws (both of which he sank) but it also was a play Biola could not shake. The Eagles committed a turnover on their next possession and they would not score another field goal the rest of the game
 
Words from coach Matt Logie and Myles Franklin

News and Notes
> PLNU led wire-to-wire in this contest, a night after not having a single lead
> The five turnovers match the lowest total for Point Loma since joining the NCAA
> The 48-point first half is the second-highest scoring half this season for the Sea Lions (51 vs. Concordia 1/23/21)
> The minus-10 rebounding differential was the largest in a win in the Coach Logie era
> Mackenzie and Anderson have each scored in double-figures in all seven games this season
> Anderson has scored in double-figures in 22 straight games dating back to last season

Next
Point Loma will prepare to face Azusa Pacific for the first time this season. The Sea Lions and Cougars will meet in Golden Gym on Friday, Feb. 26 before playing at Azusa on Saturday, Feb. 27. Both games will tip at 4:30 p.m.