(HAYWARD, Calif.) Two down, one to go.
No. 3 seed PLNU Men's Basketball defeated No. 2 seed Saint Martin's, 66-57, in Saturday's NCAA West Regional semifinals to advance to the regional championship game for the third time in four seasons.
Point Loma surged to a double-digit lead at halftime before
Andrew Nagy scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to hold off the Saints' comeback bid, as the Sea Lions booked their spot in the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years for the first time in program history.
PLNU's first three made field goals in the game came from behind the arc before Nagy's straightaway triple put the Sea Lions up, 25-12.
Andrew Hommes then took over with eight-straight PLNU points before
Caden Harris beat the first-half buzzer with his baseline layup to give Point Loma a 38-25 halftime lead.
However, the Saints came marching back, going on a 10-1 run out of the locker room and holding the Sea Lions without a made basket for the first 7:38 of the second half.
SMU got to within three with eight minutes to play, before PLNU responded with an 11-0 run, as Nagy's and-one put Point Loma back ahead by double digits.
Nagy made five of the team's six field goals in the second half, with PLNU going 0-for-7 from 3-point range after halftime, as the Sea Lions were held to their fewest points (28) in any half this season.
But none of that mattered, as Point Loma limited Saint Martin's to its fewest points in any half (28) and game (57) this season, while SMU's two 3-pointers made are also its fewest in any game this year.
Hommes and Harris joined Nagy in double figures with 10 points each, while Hommes also contributed a pair of blocks and Harris had three steals defensively.
PLNU will be making its fourth overall regional championship appearance, as the Sea Lions will look to claim the regional crown for the first time since 2018-19.
Point Loma (26-5 overall) will play against undefeated No. 1 seed and regional host Cal State East Bay (32-0) in Monday's title game.
Tip-off in Hayward is scheduled for 7 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
