(SAN RAFAEL, Calif.) Three-time defending PacWest champions Point Loma began its quest for a four-peat on Thursday night with a 69-56 victory on the road at Dominican.
 
Point Loma held Dominican without a 3-point basket, limiting the Penguins to their lowest point total of the season. The 56 points allowed by the Sea Lions are their fewest conceded in a game since allowing 55 against Hawai'i Pacific on Feb. 17.
 
A 9-0 PLNU run in the first half, capped off by Pierce Davis' layup, turned a 7-9 deficit into a 16-9 advantage for the visitors.
 
Tyce Paulsen's 3-pointer then put PLNU up by double digits before Point Loma led by seven at the break.
 
The Penguins got to within two in the second half before the Sea Lions pulled away with another 9-0 stretch.
 
A pair of free throws from Luke Haupt extended PLNU's lead to a game-high 16 with 1:45 to play, as Haupt put the finishing touches on his team-high 15-point outing.
 
Haupt was the only Sea Lion to score in double figures, but nine different PLNU players scored in what was a well-rounded offensive effort from Point Loma, who outscored Dominican 29-6 in bench points.
 
PLNU made its first 18 free throws, with its only miss from the charity stripe coming with 30 seconds remaining in the game in its final attempt.
 
Point Loma (8-2 overall, 1-0 PacWest) concludes its trip to the Bay Area with a road game at Academy of Art on Saturday in a matchup of the two teams who shared the conference title a season ago.
 
Tip-off in San Francisco is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.