Sea Lions End Regular Season Red Hot

PLNU seniors: Casey Ortiz, Nick Corso, Ryan Smee, Josh Sanderson and Manager Mike Duarte

box score

San Diego, CA (3/3) - Point Loma Nazarene put together a terrific senior night performance as the Sea Lions coasted to a 94-80 win over San Diego Christian in Golden Gymnasium Monday night.

Five Sea Lions scored in double figures in the final regular season home game for seniors Josh Sanderson, Casey Ortiz, Nick Corso and Ryan Smee.

The win allows PLNU (22-8, 13-7) to host a first-round GSAC playoff game on Thursday against Vanguard.

The Sea Lions put together a great offensive performance tonight, scoring 54 points in the first half before letting up in the second half and allowing everyone to get in the game.

A 13-0 run in the first half broke a 16-16 tie and allowed the Sea Lions to take control of the game’s tempo. PLNU moved the ball around well, and earned high percentage shots, resulting in a 58.2 shooting percentage on the night.

Craig Austin led PLNU with 19 points and Brian Ormon added 16 in the win. Sanderson and Ortiz went out in style, Ortiz finishing with 14 points and Sanderson scoring 15 and dishing out eight assists. Curtis Carlson added 11 for the Sea Lions.

San Diego Christian’s Kevin Dillon had a career-night, leading all scorers with 26 points in the loss. Bayo Arigbon had 16 points and 11 rebounds in his final collegiate game, and Chris Neal added 11 points for the Hawks.

PLNU led by as many as 29 in the second half, at 87-58 with 8:10 to play. But Dillon helped the Hawks close the gap somewhat, as SDCC scored 12 unanswered points and would cut the lead down to 14 by the game’s end.

San Diego Christian ends its season at 5-23, 2-18 in the GSAC, but will only lose one player (Arigbon) to graduation.

The Sea Lions will be back in action on Thursday night at 7:30 as the GSAC’s four seed. They will host five-seeded Vanguard (20-9, 13-7), who PLNU has defeated twice already this season.

-Jeremiah Wood