(ABERDEEN, S.D.) PLNU Men's Basketball announced itself on the national stage in 2019 when the Sea Lions reached the national championship game.
 
Three NCAA Regional appearances later, the Sea Lions are ready to remind the country of what they're capable of.
 
After an unbeaten start to the season, Point Loma (3-0 overall) entered the D2SIDA national rankings this week at No. 20, but now the Sea Lions face their toughest test of the campaign this weekend at the Small College Basketball Champions Classic in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
 
The Sea Lions are set to take on a pair of nationally recognized programs in Minnesota Duluth and Northern State on Friday and Saturday, as one of four NCAA Division II teams invited to participate in the national showcase.
 
"The SCB Champions Classic is a tremendous opportunity for our program to compete against nationally elite programs outside of our region and continue to expand on the brand recognition that Point Loma has been building since joining the NCAA DII level," Head Coach Matt Logie said.
 

Follow along with @plnubasketball at the @smcollegehoops Champions Classic, which begins Friday night.

Tournament webpage: https://t.co/E2Diztng9a pic.twitter.com/Pk7qfZ5vOh

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) November 17, 2022

 
Minnesota Duluth (2-0) is ranked as high as seventh in the NABC Coaches Poll, while also being tabbed eighth in the D2SIDA rankings.
 
Northern State (1-1) is receiving the most votes of any team not in the top-25 of the NABC Coaches Poll, with its only loss coming in a narrow 78-81 defeat to No. 1 Northwest Missouri State last Friday.
 
"Both Minnesota Duluth and Northern State are exceptional teams with great coaching and great traditions, so I'm excited," Logie said. "I'm thrilled that we can put Point Loma on that national stage and give people the exposure to what we're building out here as well."
 
The tournament holds special significance for the Sea Lions after former men's basketball star and PLNU President Dr. Jim Bond was officially inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 4.
 
Point Loma is set to take on Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT before playing at Northern State on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. PT.
 
PLNU has never played either MDU or NSU.
 
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