(HAYWARD, Calif.) The situation is controlled.
No. 3 seed PLNU Men's Basketball completed step one at the NCAA West Regional, taking control of No. 6 seed Northwest Nazarene in Friday afternoon's quarterfinals with a 76-61 victory over the Nighthawks.
Point Loma advances to the regional semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
PacWest Conference Player of the Year
Andrew Nagy led all players with 22 points and eight rebounds, while PacWest Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Caden Harris had 21 points.
A pair of Harris triples early in the game helped PLNU overcome a brief deficit, before the Sea Lions gained control of the game with a 10-0 run in the first half capped off by
Judson Loe's tip-in basket.
In the final minutes of the opening period,
James Nobles' block got Harris out in transition before Nobles crashed the offensive glass to put PLNU up by double digits going into the locker room.
The Nighthawks got to within seven before the Sea Lions restored their double-digit lead when
Jake Lifgren's steal resulted in a Nobles 3 on the other end, as PLNU set a season-high with 11 steals in the game.
Point Loma extended its advantage to as many as 19 on multiple occasions, as Nagy and Harris closed out the win down the stretch by combining for 15 of the team's final 17 points.
PLNU held NNU to just 4-for-21 from the perimeter, while Nagy had a couple blocks and
Jack Wistrcill added three of his own off the bench.
Point Loma (26-5 overall) advances to Saturday's regional semifinals against either No. 2 seed Saint Martin's (26-5), who defeated No. 7 seed Hawai'i Pacific 75-68 in its first round matchup.
Tip-off in Hayward is scheduled for 5 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
