Skip To Main Content

Biola University Athletics

Scoreboard

The Official Athletic Site of the Biola University Eagles

Scoreboard

Franklin
Noah McWilliams
68
Winner CSUSB CSSB 5-1,0-0 CCAA
63
Biola BIO 2-1,0-0 PacWest
Winner
CSUSB CSSB
5-1,0-0 CCAA
68
Final
63
Biola BIO
2-1,0-0 PacWest
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSUSB CSSB 32 36 68
Biola BIO 31 32 63

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Ethan McGarvey, Sports Information Director

BU Goes Wire to Wire Against No. 11 CSUSB

A high profile matchup pitted Biola against CSU San Bernardino on Thursday and the No. 11 Yotes squeezed out a win over the Eagles.

LA MIRADA --- BU's battle with the CCAA conference continued on Thursday with a contest against No. 11 CSU San Bernardino (5-1). The bout was decided by a mere two possessions, as the Eagles (2-1) fell at home, 68-63. 

Two top-six teams in the west region met in Chase Gymnasium on Thursday night and the bout met the hype. Five lead changes and six ties scratched the surface of an intense game that saw two teams separated by five points.

Biola men's basketball did their usual offensive outburst at the tip, striking first for the lead. The host squad led for the first five and a half minutes of the game, attacking the paint with four buckets near the hoop to go along with three free throws.

Early foul trouble put Daniel Esparza off the court and the Yotes took advantage, erasing their deficit and building a lead. A 12-5 run for CSUSB flipped the scoreline and the visitors were in control at 23-14 just over halfway in the first half.

Davian Brown scored five points in a 7-0 BU run, which helped the Eagles go into the halftime break down by one at 32-31. The two teams looked similar on the stat sheet in the first half, each shooting 44 percent from the field with the only difference coming at the line, 7-6 for made free throws in favor of CSUSB.

Esparza was ready to jump back in after the break, hitting the first shot of the second half. The senior gave the Eagles the lead with a triple, leading to a back-and-forth battle over the next eight minutes of action. 

At the 12:36 mark, CSUSB made its move. 13-straight points went to the visitors, who quickly opened a 58-46 lead. Biola was kept off the scoreboard for over five minutes of game time with three turnovers.

It would not take long for the Eagles to find their bearings, fighting back with a run of their own. A 7-0 BU rally quickly turned a 10-point deficit into a one possession game. 

Julien Franklin brought the crowd to its feet twice with massive dunks. One during the seven-point run and one with 30 seconds left to bring the Eagles within one point at 64-63. 

With the final seconds ticking, CSUSB put the game away at the free throw line, hitting four of five for the 68-63 final.

Brown was Biola's leading scorer on Thursday, offering 18 points on 50.0 percent shooting. The graduate transfer hit two threes and added three boards, two assists and a steal.

Biola thrived at the charity stripe with 14 made free throws on 15 total attempts for a 93.3 percentage and was led by Brown who went six-for-six at the line.

Casey Cappo was strong once again for Biola, finishing the night with 15 points and eight rebounds. Erik Howlin and Franklin also attacked the basket, each reaching 10 points for BU.

Turnovers hurt the Eagles with 20 compared to just 12 from the Yotes.

Biola will be back in action on the road at Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad

Sponsors