Box Score SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- A three-pointer by Marek Kalssen with 32 seconds left proved to be the game winner as Biola suffered a 51-50 GSAC defeat at the hands of Point Loma Nazarene University on Saturday night at Golden Gymnasium.
The Eagles (12-6, 3-3 GSAC) suffer their second-straight loss after a defeat of then No. 1-ranked Concordia one week ago. It was also their third loss in their last four games.
Biola trailed through much of the game including trailing by as many as nine in the second half. The Eagles would erase the deficit and take its first lead since early in the game with a seven-point run by Zach Zaragoza late in the second half. A fastbreak layup by the sophomore would give Biola a 44-42 lead with 5:34 remaining.
The teams went back and forth until the Eagles took a 50-48 lead on a Davey Hopkins layup with 1:34 to go. Biola's defense held up against a pair of chances by the Sea Lions (11-4, 4-2 GSAC). But after an offensive rebound off the second miss, Point Loma's Kalssen hit his third three-pointer over the course of the final five minutes--this one coming with 32 seconds left--to give the Sea Lions a 51-50 lead.
Biola worked the clock down a bit before a jumper by Hopkins was missed with 20 seconds left and did get one more chance after Klassen missed the front end of a one-and-one with two seconds left. However, the Eagles were unable to get off a good shot in the final ticks and lost by one.
Klassen was the lone Sea Lion in double figures, scoring 17 points including going 5-of-10 from three-point range. Zaragoza led Biola with 16 points off the bench while Andre Murillo added another double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
In the first half, the Eagles got off to a slow start offensively, failing to break into double figures until a pair of Hopkins free throws with 4:34 remaining in the half. However, Biola's defense helped keep the game close as Point Loma led by just 10 at 18-8 prior to that. The free throws would spark a 10-0 run as the Eagles tied the game at 18-18 just two minutes later and trailed by just two at the break.
Biola tied the game again with a Zaragoza layup on Biola's opening possession in the second half, but Point Loma Nazarene stretched the lead back to nine right away with a 11-2 run to make it 33-24 five minute in. The Eagles would slowly chip away and eventually took back the lead with Zaragoza's run to set up the dramatic finish.
The Eagles dominated the game inside, outscoring the Sea Lions 26-6 in the paint and dominating 46-32 on the boards. However, Point Loma hit nine three-pointers in the contest with seven coming in the second half, accounting for all but one of its field goals over the final 20 minutes.
Biola is now 2-6 in games decided by six points or fewer and have lost its last four such games including each of their past four losses. The Eagles also remain winless on the road in their first three conference games.
Biola returns to the court on Tuesday, hosting Fresno Pacific University in a key GSAC contest at Chase Gymnasium. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
