(SAN DIEGO) Kaden Anderson scored a career-high 46 points but Western Washington hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the game to overtime before defeating PLNU Men's Basketball on Saturday afternoon, 91-89.
 
"Our guys played really hard," Head Coach Matt Logie said on his team's effort. "I thought we made enough plays in regulation to be able to win the game and then just fell short by one or two possessions."
 
Point Loma led by three down the stretch after a pair of Anderson free throws, which helped the two-time PacWest Player of the Year surpass his previous career-high of 37 points.
 
The Sea Lions were then just six seconds away from holding on for its second-straight victory, but WWU's Daniel Hornbuckle went the length of the floor before rising for a game-tying, pullup triple as time expired.
 

Kaden Anderson's 46 points vs. WWU on Saturday rank #2 all-time in a single game in @plnubasketball history.

Bob Hopkins holds the program record with his 51 points against La Verne on Feb. 13, 1954. pic.twitter.com/sIARc2ZPaQ

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) November 27, 2022

 
PLNU quickly responded with a 5-0 run at the onset of overtime. Anderson converted an and-one opportunity before Brian Goracke corralled his missed jumper to score the putback, swinging the momentum back in Point Loma's favor.
 
But the visitors proceeded to score the next eight points to snatch their first lead since late in the first half.
 
Then with under a minute to play, Anderson rebounded an airball and laid it in to bring Point Loma back to within two. On the other end, Western Washington got a second-chance opportunity with an offensive rebound, but PLNU got a defensive stop to get the ball back with eight seconds remaining.
 
However, the Sea Lions were then unable to get a final shot away and succumbed to their first home defeat of the season.
 
"Western Washington is a very talented team," Logie said. "They're a team that is capable of playing with anyone in the region and they showed that down the stretch. We've got to grow from this and turn our attention quickly to conference play."


 
The loss spoiled a career-night from Anderson, whose 46 points are the second-most scored in a single game in program history behind Bob Hopkins' 51 points on Feb. 13, 1954 against La Verne.
 
The Vikings had no answer for Anderson, whether he was scoring in the post, from the low block or after crashing the offensive glass. He was a primary reason the Sea Lions held a sizable 54-30 advantage in points in the paint.
 
"We did a good job of pounding the ball inside with 54 points in the paint," Logie said. "Kaden was obviously phenomenal."
 
Anderson, who added 12 rebounds, shot 18-of-32 from the field and 10-for-11 from the charity stripe.
 
Tobin Karlberg, whose 3-pointer on PLNU's final possession of the first half gave the Sea Lions a one-point halftime lead, finished with 18 points, with 14 of those coming in the opening 20 minutes. Goracke added 15 points to make it three Sea Lions in double figures.
 
Point Loma (4-3 overall) now sets it sights on the beginning of PacWest Conference play on Thursday, when PLNU hosts defending conference tournament champions Academy of Art at 7:30 p.m.
 
PLNU has won either the PacWest regular season or tournament title in each of the past three seasons.
 
"When conference starts, everyone is 0-0," Logie said. "I don't think anyone has faced a more challenging nonconference schedule in November than we have. That's why we signed up for that so we would be exposed in areas that'll help us grow and help us get better.
 
"I think this part of the season did that. Now it's all about what happens next, so that's where our focus is going into this week."