SAN DIEGO - Kaden Anderson scored a career-high 37 points to lead No. 13 Point Loma to a 91-79 win on the road at Azusa Pacific. (Feb. 27)
 
The junior forward went 14-of-20 from the field and 6-of-7 from behind the arc to match the PLNU school-record for the most points by a student-athlete at the NCAA Division II level. He had 16 points in the first half as PLNU built a 45-31 halftime lead. In the second half, he was almost perfect, going 8-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free throw line to add 21 more points. APU never got closer than 11 points in the second half.  
 
In addition to his 37 points, Anderson also had five rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Point Loma received 14 points apiece from Myles Franklin and Brock Mackenzie. Franklin also dished out a career-high eight assists and Mackenzie had five of his own. Noah Stapes posted 11 points and eight rebounds, while Luke Haupt had seven rebounds and five assists to go along with his seven points. Brennan Rymer led the Cougars with 14 points.
 
Point Loma shot .508 percent in the game. It was the sixth time in nine contests they have shot over .500 percent. The Sea Lions added 13 3-pointers as they connected on .400 percent of their shots from behind the arc for the sixth time this season. On the other side of the ball, they limited APU to 8-of-25 shooting from long range. The Cougars hit just 13-of-50 from behind the arc on the weekend.
 
Team Records
#13 Point Loma (8-1, 7-1 PacWest), Azusa Pacific (5-7, 4-6 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
With wins by Point Loma and Biola, the Sea Lions continue to hold a slight edge on the Eagles in the PacWest standings. Makeup games are expected to occur next week to determine the PacWest SoCal Pod Championship.
 
Turning Point
During a 10-minute stretch in the first half, PLNU outscored APU 29-9 to open up a 22-point lead. Anderson scored 11 points in this stretch and seven different Sea Lions scored during the run.
 
Words from coach Matt Logie
On Anderson's performance and offensive repertoire: "Kaden is such a versatile threat because he can score at all three levels. He is really understanding different coverage packages and has been able to grow in his attack versus each of them because he works so hard on his game."
 
On what makes the starting unit so effective: "Our starting unit has been great all year, they all compliment each other well and have set the tone from day 1. Along with all of the new guys that have stepped up off the bench this year we have really been able to put multiple lineups on the floor and stay strong which is what you need in March."
 
On the mindset needed to play with the lead: "We know it's a 40-minute game. We want to be in attack mode as well as play smart for 40 minutes. When we make good reads and take care of the basketball it is difficult to come back."
 
News and Notes
> Anderson's 37 points match Daulton Hommes (vs. Saint Martin's, 11/10/18) for the most points scored by a Sea Lion in NCAA Division II play
> Anderson alone outscored Azusa Pacific's starters (37-32)
> PLNU had just nine turnovers in the game, their second-lowest total of the season
> Point Loma had a season-high 33 free throw attempts in the game
> Anderson has scored in double-figures in 24 straight games dating back to last season

Next
Point Loma will close out the regular season with a makeup game against Biola on Saturday, Mar. 6 at 7 p.m. in Irvine, Calif. The game will be played at a neutral court on the campus of Concordia, Irvine.