SAN MARCOS, Calif. --- The Biola men's basketball team closed on a 13-1 run to defeat Cal State San Marcos 83-71 on the road.
Walker Weir led the Eagles with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting, adding five rebounds and two assists.
Charlie Gehler scored 16 points and went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line, while
Grayson Sinek and
Brycen Mackenzie each finished with 11. Sinek also recorded five rebounds and four steals, while Mackenzie provided his scoring off the bench.
Christian Wise added 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting, along with six rebounds and three assists.
Biola shot 53 percent from the floor, 36 percent from three-point range and 17-for-19 at the free-throw line. The Eagles forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 26 points. The Cougars held a 37-28 advantage on the glass, including 17 offensive rebounds, and went 22-for-28 at the line while shooting 39 percent from the field.
Biola fell behind 8-0 to open the game before responding with an 8-0 run of its own, capped by a Gehler three-pointer to even the score. The Eagles eventually pushed ahead 23-16, but the Cougars stayed within reach by going 15-for-16 at the free-throw line in the first half. Mackenzie knocked down a three-pointer with four seconds remaining to send Biola into the break with a 38-36 lead.
The Cougars took control early in the second half, leading by as many as seven at 55-48 and holding a 57-51 advantage with just over 12 minutes remaining. Gehler's layup brought the Eagles even at 59 with 10:25 to play, setting up a back-and-forth finish. The teams traded baskets through ties at 61, 63, 65 and 67 before a San Marcos three-pointer knotted the score at 70 with 3:37 remaining.
From there, Biola took over, outscoring the Cougars 13-1 to close the game. Weir accounted for six points during the stretch, including a dunk with 22 seconds remaining. Aranda added four points, and Sinek delivered a three-pointer with 1:29 left to help seal the victory.
The Eagles improve to 2-1 on the season.
Biola returns to Chase Gymnasium to host Stanton on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
