BOX SCORE

SAN DIEGO – Point Loma is going to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball West Regional final for the first time after taking out UC San Diego, 73-50, on Saturday night in Golden Gym in a game that the Sea Lions never trailed.
 
It was the Sea Lions’ second win against UC San Diego at home this year after winning a tight 75-73 battle back in November. Point Loma’s next opponent is another team that the Sea Lions faced back in November as they take on No. 3 seed Saint Martin’s in the championship game. Saint Martin’s is the only team in the West Region outside the PacWest to have beaten Point Loma this year.
 
A 10-2 run for Point Loma in the span of just over four minutes near the start of the game gave the Sea Lions the lead for the rest of the game as they slowly built that lead all the way up to 25 points for the 73-50 win in the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional.
 
The closest UC San Diego got to Point Loma for the rest of the game was a four-point deficit at 33-29 with a minute left in the first half. Daulton Hommes responded to that by single-handedly going on an 8-0 run that started with a 3-pointer to close out the first half. The West Region Player of the Year then opened the second half with a dunk and another 3-pointer to make the score 41-29.
 
Point Loma’s defense closed out the victory by holding the Tritons to just 21 points in the second half. On three occasions in the second half, Point Loma went on runs of three minutes or longer without allowing any points. Preston Beverly recorded two blocks and six defensive rebounds to help lead the Sea Lions’ defensive effort.

"I think that was one of our best defensive performances of the year," Point Loma head coach Ryan Looney said. "Our guys were flying around and did a great job controlling the backboards too."
 
Hommes finished the game with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Ben Okhotin added 10 points without a missed field goal or free throw, while Ziggy Satterthwaite registered eight points and six rebounds.
 
Point Loma is now 28-4 on the season with an eight-game winning streak going into Monday night’s final against Saint Martin’s. The Sea Lions are looking to become the third different PacWest team in the last five years to win the NCAA West Regional and advance to the Elite Eight.