Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- With over 48 years of history between the two teams and 111 total games played it was only fitting that the final regular season Golden State Athletic Conference matchup between No. 6 Biola and No. 12 Westmont was one for the ages.
 
After seeing a lead as large as 15 disappear the Eagles really had to focus in during the final two minutes of play as the two NAIA Division I heavyweights traded blows and leads. In the end the Eagles would take advantage of being on their home court to gut out a 63-60 victory.
 
"I think it was huge," said sophomore guard Trevor Treinen. "I think going there and getting upset was hard for us, so coming back and just playing big against them was really good for us. I think our effort was good and that is one thing coach Holmquist always emphasizes."

Treinen had a front row seat to the action during all of the stickiest moments down the stretch despite being quieter than normal on the offensive end of the floor for much of the night.
 
It was the 6-foot-4-inch sophomore sharpshooter that came up with the clutch plays that sealed the game in the final seconds. He was the one who came down with the game's final defensive rebound with three seconds on the clock and then made both free throws to extend the lead to three and force Westmont into a half-court heave to try and tie the game as time expired.
 
"It was nerve-racking in the moment," said Treinen. "Once I stepped up to the line, I get pretty nervous about everything, I was kind of shaking. But once I got the first one to go I got a little less nervous. It was really great to see my team get really pumped up and the crowd get pumped up."
 
A packed house of over 1,000 was on hand to witness the epic conclusion to what's been a wonderful rivalry between these two sides.
 
Biola controlled every aspect of the first half as it forced Westmont to take a bunch of outside shots despite not having their deep shot working early on. The Biola defense eliminated the Warriors' post players for the most part and held Cory Blau, Gerald Karczewski and the rest of Westmont's sharpshooters just 1-for-11 from deep in the first half.
 
That defense, combined with an offense making 56 percent of its shots and big men grabbing 18 of the available 32 rebounds, helped Biola claim a very comfortable 34-24 lead heading into the locker rooms.
 
The second half, just like it was up in Santa Barbara earlier this year, was when the Warriors made just the right amount of adjustments to make this back into a game.
 
Despite getting just four second-half minutes from their superstar, Blau, the Warriors managed to erase 41-26 lead in just over 13 minutes to take their second lead of the game at 54-53 with three minutes and 15 seconds to play.
 
It was a pair of free throws from Karczewski, who was 6-of-8 from the stripe on the night and shoots 84 percent on the year, gave the Warriors that lead. The Warriors' no. 2 scoring threat had six points in that second half, all coming off of free throws.
 
Fouls were a big reason Westmont was allowed to get back into the game. The officials were definitely not going to let the boys play on this evening, resulting in two Biola foul outs down the stretch.
 
After the Karczewski's go-ahead free throws the lead changed hands eight more times in the ensuing three minutes.
 
A pair of free throws from Ryan Swain with 26 seconds on the clock was the final lead change as it put Biola in the driver's seat for good.
 
Lockdown defense on the next possession forced Westmont's Samuel Bentz to take an awkward mid-range jump shot to try and win the game for the Warriors. It was of course no good and Treinen hopped into the air and grabbed the board before two guys fell on top of him.
 
Treinen would end with 10 points and he'd lead the team seven defensive rebounds. He was one of four Eagles to hit double-digits, led by Caelan Tiongson's 14, 13 from Swain and 11 from Dakari Archer.

Swain had a stand-out night as he continues to play a bigger and bigger role in the scoring. He made all four of his field goal attempts, including two threes and was 3-for-3 from the line. He also had a knack for setting his teammates early on, getting four assists, all in the first half.
 
The win gives Biola a 22-2 overall record. It is the team's seventh win in a row. It also moves the team to 8-2 in GSAC play and holds a one-game lead in the conference standings.
 
"[To keep winning] it's going to take defense and effort," said Treinen. "Coach Holmquist has emphasized this all season and we're going to have to keep doing it. I think when other teams make runs we can't get down on ourselves. I think we did a great job of that tonight."
 
Westmont falls to 17-5 and 6-4 GSAC following the loss. The Warriors defeated the Eagles by double-digits earlier this year, accounting for half of the team's losses this season. A win here at home sure feels good.
 
Biola is back in action on Saturday night in another important matchup as they travel to The Master's University (17-3, 6-3 GSAC).