SAN DIEGO—Point Loma worked their way to the free throw line and hit clutch long range bombs to plant a 82-64 verdict on CSU San Bernardino on Saturday night in the NCAA West Region men’s basketball championships.

The Sea Lions now advance to the West Region finals on Monday night (7:30 pm) at Golden Gymnasium. They will play CSU Dominguez Hills, a winner earlier today over Central Washington.

Point Loma improved to 29-5, while the Coyotes’ season ends at 26-6.

The Sea Lions took advantage of five CSUSB technical fouls and additional foul trouble and made hay at the free throw line (33-for-43). They also heated up from three-point range in the second half to further distance their lead, hitting six treys after the break.

After the Coyotes began the game on a 6-2 run, the Sea Lions came back and never trailed from the halfway point of the first half on. PLNU led 37-29 at the break, despite ten points from Andrew Henderson. Jaden Matingou had ten off the bench for Point Loma in the first half.

Point Loma hit 16-of-19 free throw attempts in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, the ‘Yotes made a run behind Evan Oliver’s seven points in the first three minutes. They cut the margin to four points (42-38), but the hosts quickly answered with a 7-0 run of their own and CSUSB wouldn’t get any closer than six after that.

Oliver would foul out with nine minutes left. Zack Paulsen started heating up from three-point range and at the free throw line where technical fouls (four total) on the visitors added up and PLNU took advantage.Twice, Paulsen had four free throws in one visit because the fouls were on the bench.

Zack Paulsen led all scorers with 24 points, hitting 13-of-14 shots from the free throw line and he was three of five from beyond the arch. His brother Tyce had 12 points, and PLNU got ten each from Matingou, Luke Haupt and Wynton Brown.

Henderson had 19 to lead the Coyotes and Jordan Jones had 15. Nic Welp had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.