(SAN DIEGO) Westmont came back from a 12-point halftime deficit to spoil PLNU Men's Basketball's regular season home finale, 73-71, on Wednesday night inside Golden Gym.
 
Point Loma broke open a closely-contested first half with an 11-0 run, as Jaden Matingou found a streaking Wynton Brown for a transition lay-in and Luke Smith confidently drained a 3.
 
Matingou then hit a triple of his own in the closing seconds of the opening half to give the Sea Lions a 43-31 advantage going into the locker room.
 

Jaden Matingou gives @plnubasketball a 43-31 halftime lead over Westmont. pic.twitter.com/acc3bdAClv

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) February 22, 2024

 
Westmont then fought back in the second half, converting PLNU turnovers into fast break points, a category in which the Warriors outscored the Sea Lions 17-2.
 
After the visitors tied it up at 68-68, Smith's nice feed to Brown down low briefly restored Point Loma's lead with 2:36 remaining.
 
But Westmont held PLNU to just a single free throw the rest of the game, as the Warriors limited the Sea Lions to 28 points in the second half.
 

Westmont comes back in the second half to beat @plnubasketball, 73-71. pic.twitter.com/uWMfJ7TeTR

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) February 22, 2024

 
Brown posted a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds, leading all five starters who scored in double figures – Coby Barnes (15 points), Zack Paulsen (13 points), Smith (11 points), Matingou (11 points).
 
Point Loma (18-8 overall, 13-5 PacWest) will conclude its regular season schedule in the Bay Area with games at Dominican (Feb. 29) and Academy of Art (March 2) before hosting the PacWest Tournament in Golden Gym March 7-9.
 
With wins in both of its final two regular season games, PLNU can clinch at least a share of the PacWest regular season title.

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