Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Tonight would have been a difficult first loss for Biola Men's Basketball considering the Pomona-Pitzer team the Eagles were facing was considering the game an exhibition that didn't count toward their overall record.
 
It's a good thing Terrell Funches and Dakari Archer got blistering hot down the stretch and both scored 14 second-half points to lead the Eagles to a 72-62 win. The double-digit victory was not really solidified until the final two minutes of play when a big run pushed Biola ahead.
 
The visiting Sagehens had held tough despite trailing the entire game and were looking at what was just a four-point deficit at the 2:00 mark, but then Funches and Archer turned it up a notch and expanded the Eagles' lead to 14 in just a matter of seconds.
 
Funches had a layup and a three during that 10-point run and Archer got a steal that turned into a fast break assist and also buried two free throws to help push Biola's lead to a point that was unreachable for the Sagehens with under a minute to play.
 
Biola's defense was sound all night, which saved them from suffering a loss in a game that was kept all too close because of another aspect of the game where Biola was weak throughout the night, rebounding. The Sagehens held a nearly double-digit rebounding advantage for most of the night before ultimately only grabbing three more boards than the Eagles.
 
Biola forced 19 turnovers from Pomona-Pitzer, which was playing in its first game of the season this time out. Thirteen of those 19 turnovers were a direct result of a Biola steal as the Eagles kept their hands busy throughout the evening. Archer was the one that paved the way for that defensive effort with seven steals himself, most of which turned into fast break points for the Eagles' quick guard.
 
Biola had 12 fast break points on the night and was good at cutting off the Sagehens' runs as it allowed its opponents only two points on the break. Twenty-nine of Biola's 72 points came after a Pomona-Pitzer turnover, which was setting the Sagehens' 29-year head coach, Charles Katsiaficas, up the wall all night long.
 
One of the reasons the Eagles were able to pull away from the visiting team late in the second half was much better free throw shooting. This was an area that was spotty in the beginning of the second half, but turned out much better later on in the frame. It was especially on point when Biola could send Archer, Funches or Jeff Gonzalez to the line. The trio combined to go 11-for-16 on free throws in the second period.
 
The big lead held up and in the end the Eagles walked away with a sixth-straight victory to open the 2015-16. Funches and Archer are the story as the pair combined to score 45 of the Eagles' 72 points. Archer's seven steals and Funches' seven rebounds also made them integral parts of the defensive effort.
 
"Between the steals, rebounds, and obviously the points, those two guys were definitely the key tonight," said Head Coach Dr. Dave Holmquist.
 
If we had to pick a third star it would be Gonzalez who had another consistent performance. The Eagles' lengthy forward ended with eight hard fought points and 10 rebounds, which led everyone.
 
Biola continues its season on Tuesday Nov. 17 at home against Antelope Valley. The team will be seeking career win No. 898 for Holmquist in that 7:30 p.m. game.