BOX SCORE

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Casey Ortiz scored 20 points to lead Point Loma Nazarene University to an 88-80 victory over Biola University on Thursday night at Chase Gymnasium.

Despite a season-high 27 points from Solomon Mercado and a 21-point, 16-rebound effort by Danny Jones, the Eagles (12-11 overall, 6-7 GSAC) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.

The Sea Lions, who improve to 13-9 overall and 5-7 in GSAC play, had four players score in double-figures led by Ortiz' 20. Josh Sanderson had 14 points, Brandon Wilcox had 12 and Brian Graham poured in 10 points off the bench. 

Prior to the game, Biola was dealt a big blow as leading scorer Rocky Hampton was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his knee. He is scheduled to have surgery to repair the damage and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.

Point Loma shook off a slow start and broke a 15-15 tie with a 14-2 run midway through the first half. Biola narrowed the gap to just four at halftime thanks to a short run of their own to go to the locker room down 38-34.

However, the Sea Lions continued to frustrate the Eagles in the second half, slowly increasing their lead to as many as 13 at 64-51 with 8:47 to go. Biola managed to pull that lead down to five on three different occasions, but Pt. Loma would respond on each occasion and would not allow the Eagles to get any closer.

Also scoring in double-figures for Biola were guards Kevin Cook and Matt Emadi, who scored 11 and 12 points, respectively.

With the loss, the Eagles struggles at Chase Gymnasium continue as Biola drops to 4-5 in La Mirada and just 2-5 in GSAC home games.

The Eagles take the weekend off and return to action at home against The Master's College on Tuesday (Feb. 6). Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.