Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. ---
Chase Adams scored a game-high 16 points and
Given Kalipinde added a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double as Biola beat San Diego Christian College 76-45 in a GSAC game on Tuesday night.
The Eagles pick up their fourth-straight win and ninth in their last 10 games, improving to 21-8 on the season. They move into a four-way tie for second in the GSAC with an 11-6 record. The Hawks fall to 7-17 overall and to 3-14 in GSAC play.
Biola played a solid game all around. On defense the Eagles held the Hawks to 31.4% shooting and forced 21 turnovers, converting them into 27 points. Offensively, Biola shot 48.3% and led through much of the game.
San Diego Christian kept the game close through the first part of the first half, trailing by just one at 14-13 just under eight minutes into the contest. The Hawks were down 18-14 with 11:19 left when Biola took over, clamping down on defense and went on a 21-3 run over the next eight minutes to take control of the game.
The would keep up the pressure in the second half, opening the period on a 16-4 run to take a 32-point lead 6:30 into the half and never looked back.
The win was a decisive one against a team which had lost nine of its previous 13 GSAC games by 10 points or fewer. The Hawks gave Biola all its could handle when the teams met in El Cajon with the Eagles pulling away at the end with some late heroics. However, Biola would not leave this game to chance and dominated all facets of the game.
No San Diego Christian player scored in double-figures with Raphael Rodriguez and Benji Arvizu each scoring nine points.
Kaimarr Price added 10 points for the Eagles while Davey Hopkins and Andre Murillo each contributed nine.
The victory sets up an exciting finale in the GSAC race. Concordia wrapped up the regular season title with a come-from-behind victory over Point Loma Nazarene in a battle of two NAIA Top 15 teams. That dropped PLNU into a four-way tie for second with Biola, Azusa Pacific and Westmont. APU and Westmont play each other in Azusa on Saturday while Point Loma hosts Vanguard. Biola is also in action, hosting The Master's College.
At stake are home games in the first round of the GSAC playoffs. The top four teams host opening round games on Thursday, March 1 with the winners advancing to the semifinals at Concordia on Saturday. One of the teams in the second-place tie will finish in fifth while the other three will wrap up a home berth.
For Biola, a victory on Saturday is vital to earning an NAIA Tournament berth. Currently the Eagles are on the outside looking in, needing to finish in the top three in the GSAC to hope for an at-large berth. Of course, there are two automatic berths in the conference: the regular-season champ and the conference tournament champ (or second-place finisher if Concordia wins the tournament).
Saturday's game is Senior Night with the Eagles recognizing their lone senior: Davey Hopkins. The senior ceremony takes place prior to the game with the tip slated for 7:30 p.m.
