BOX SCORE

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The Biola men's basketball team suffered a tough start to the Golden State Athletic Conference portion of the schedule, falling 62-61 to No. 22 San Diego Christian College on Tuesday night at Chase Gymnasium in La Mirada.

For the Eagles, it was their first loss of the season as they fall to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in GSAC play. The Hawks move to 3-0 on the year and 1-0 in conference action.

The two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the whole game with neither team holding a lead larger than five during the final five minutes. But the game came down to the final minute of play.

Biola broke a 59-59 tie on a pair of free throws by junior Danny Jones with 59 seconds remaining. After San Diego Christian converted just one of two free throws 14 seconds later, the Eagles turned the ball over on an offensive foul.

The Hawks' Drew Sanchez stole the lead back with an off-balance bankshot in the paint to give SDCC a 62-61 edge with 21 seconds to play.

The Eagles had a pair of chances to win the game in the closing seconds, but failed to convert either time. Senior Spencer Foster missed an off-balance runner of his own with 11 seconds left. Even after the Hawks' Bayo Arigbon missed a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left, the Eagles were unable to get a shot off in the waining moments.

Senior Solomon Mercado led the way for Biola with 22 points while Danny Jones added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Rory Morgan had 18 points to lead the Hawks.

Both teams shot well from the field as San Diego Christian hit 56 percent from the floor while Biola hit a respectable 48 percent.

Biola hosts Redlands University in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Chase Gymnasium.