LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola scored the first 18 points of the game and never looked back, defeating the University of Montana-Western 81-54 in a non-conference game at Chase Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Eagles, who win back-to-back games for the first time since the beginning of the month, improve to 9-3 on the season. The Bulldogs, who were playing their third game in as many days, fall to 8-7 and wrap up their Southern California trip with a 1-2 record.

Sophomore guard Nate Rakestraw led the Eagles with a career-high 18 points. Rakestraw, who had been struggling from the field in the first part of the season, hit 7-of-11 shots in the game including going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He added six rebounds, two assists and a steal in 32 minutes.

Sophomore center Andrew Schroeder scored 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting and also had 10 rebounds for the Eagles. Sophomore forward Josh Miller had another strong night with 16 points as well, adding seven rebounds and four assists.

The real story of the game came at the start as Biola scored the first 18 points of the game to take an insurmountable early lead just 5:30 into the game. After snapping the shutout with a free throw at the 13:42 mark, Montana Western hit its first field goal of the game--a three-pointer by Terry Hauser--to make it 18-4 with 13:07 to go in the half.

Biola would lead by as many as 21 in the first half and took a 40-22 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the Eagles stretched the lead back to 20 at 52-32 with 13:15 to play. But the Bulldogs chipped away with a short run to pull within 13 just two minutes later as they scored on five-straight possessions. 

However, Biola would clamp down on defense and hold Montana Western without a field goal over the next seven minutes, going on a 13-1 run to increase the lead to 25 and seal the victory.

The Eagles had four players in double-figures on the night with sophomore Derick Sumpter scoring 11 points in just 14 minutes. 

For the second-straight game, Biola shot well from the field, hitting 56.5 percent in the game including 60 percent in the second half. The Eagles also played outstanding defense, forcing 16 turnovers and holding Montana Western to 35 percent shooting. 

Biola closes out a busy week with a non-conference match-up on Saturday (Jan. 3) against the University of Redlands. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Chase Gymnasium.