MONMOUTH, Ore. - Point Loma converted their final attempts at the free throw line to hold off the Saints comeback attempt in a 85-77 game to conclude the GNAC/PacWest Challenge, hosted by Western Oregon.
Four Saints scored in double-digits with Luke Chavez leading the way with 20; however, Point Loma won the battle on the boards (37-23) and connected for 38 points in the paint to secure the victory.
The Saints (1-1) jumped out to quick 5-2 edge over Point Loma (2-2) on baskets from Chavez and EJ Boyce. The Sea Lions responded by taking a 21-10 lead, fueled by a 15-1 run with 12:05 left in the first half.
SMU marched back, starting with a 3-pointer by Rhett Baerlocher, followed up by baskets from Jared Mathews, BJ Standley and Boyce. Matt Dahlen grabbed the offensive board and got the tip-in to put the Saints ahead 29-27 at the 6:38 mark.
Saint Martin's lead stretched to seven twice in the following minutes with the Saints up 38-31 at 1:53 left in the first half. The Sea Lions closed out the half with 10 unanswered points to take a 41-38 lead into the locker room.
Out of the break, Dahlen and Chavez hit baskets in the paint to put SMU back up 42-41. Point Loma regain the lead at 45-44 before Chavez knocked down the 3-pointer to respond back at 47-45 with 16:32 left.
A 9-2 run by Point Loma looked to be the turning point as the Sea Lions' lead extended to five. Free throws by Tavian Henderson and Standley put the Saints back within striking distance for Baerlocher, who knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer, 62-60, at 8:07 left in the game.
The Sea Lions jumped back out front, with the Saints closing the gap to one after a Chavez 3-pointer at the 5:11 mark. In the final five minutes, Point Loma converted 7-of-8 free throws along with a key 3-pointer to outlast the Saints' comeback and secure the 85-77 victory.
"We have to credit Point Loma," said head coach
Alex Pribble. "They are a very good team, and they are very physical. This game was ultimately determined by our inability to rebound the ball, and get defensive stops at crucial moments. We need to watch film and improve on the defensive end. Our guys played hard, but we had a number of position breakdowns and mental lapses, and when you play good teams, those lapses cost you."
Chavez shot the ball efficiently (7-for-12) for a team-leading 20 points, along with his two assists and one rebound. Dahlen (14 points), Baerlocher (12 points) and Standley (13 points) combined for 39 points and eight rebounds. Henderson provided seven points, team-leading five rebounds and three assists off the bench in 23 minutes of action.
As a team, the Saints shot 27-for-55 (49.1 percent) from the floor, 9-for-22 (40.9 percent) beyond the arc, and 14-for-19 (73.7 percent) at the charity stripe. The Saints collected 12 assists on 12 turnovers with 23 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
"We're excited to get back home and play in front of our home crowd on Tuesday," Pribble said. "Hopefully we'll see a lot of people back at Marcus Pavilion."
Saint Martin's returns to Marcus Pavilion for the first time in the 2017-18 season with a match-up against Hawaii-Hilo on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for the game on smusaints.com.
