(SAN DIEGO) Luke Smith scored a career-high 19 points to lead all scorers, as PLNU Men's Basketball held its own in a competitive 71-51 loss at San Diego State on Monday night.
 
The Sea Lions got off to a fast start, with 3-pointers from Zack Paulsen and Smith giving Point Loma an early 6-2 advantage.
 
But the Aztecs immediately responded with a 14-0 run to go up by double digits, before a pair of Smith free throws got the Sea Lions back to within six at the 4:23 mark.
 
However, SDSU ended the half on a 9-0 run to take a 41-26 lead into the locker room.
 

Luke Smith (14 points) shoots 4-for-5 from 3-point range in the first half at SDSU.

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— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) November 28, 2023

 
PLNU returned to the court with a Tyce Paulsen corner 3, as Point Loma won the opening media timeout segment in the second half and played the first nine minutes of the second period level with SDSU.
 
The Sea Lions defense held the Aztecs to just 30 points in the second half, their second-fewest in a second half this season.
 

Matur Dhal throws it down 😱

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— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) November 28, 2023

 
Smith shot 5-for-7 from 3-point range, including 4-for-5 in the first half, on his way to 19 points. Paulsen joined him in double figures with 13, sinking three triples on the night.
 
San Diego State controlled the low post, outrebounding Point Loma 45-31 and outscoring the Sea Lions 36-14 in the paint.
 
Point Loma (4-3 overall) returns to Golden Gym on Saturday at 4 p.m. when PLNU hosts Vanguard.

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