PLNU now working on a new win streak as PacWest play heats up

Editor’s note: For 3 is a weekly look at basketball news from USD, UC San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene ... plus whatever else tickles the twine.

Point Loma Nazarene’s record 33-game PacWest winning streak came to an end with a loss at Azusa Pacific on Dec. 19.

No worries: the Sea Lions are working on a new one.

A 68-60 victory over Fresno Pacific on Wednesday night at Golden Gymnasium gave PLNU (9-4, 4-1 PacWest) two straight wins heading into a stretch of games against stiffer competition.

Though not as emphatic as Saturday’s 83-59 home win over Chaminade, coach Justin Downer’s team opened a double-digit first half lead and then held off a late challenge.

Guard Jake Lifgren led the way with 19 points and six rebounds for PLNU. Guard Zack Paulsen added 15 points and wing Luke Smith chipped in with 13.

The Sea Lions shot 43.8 percent from the field and 12 of 30 from 3-point range, finished with a 31-29 edge in rebounds and converted 15 Fresno Pacific turnovers into 15 points.

PLNU’s 43-26 halftime lead was made possible by a 9-for-18 performance from 3.

“When everybody can shoot and everybody’s trying to make the right play, you end up with those open 3s,” Downer said. “It’s a credit to our guys for continuing to find each other and phase into parts of the offense that are maybe unscripted. We’ll take a layup if we can get it but a lot of times, it’s trying to draw that second defender once you put a team in rotation. That’s our advantage.”

A stretch of cold shooting early in the second half allowed Fresno Pacific (1-10, 0-4 PW) to draw within 54-53 with 6:05 to go. The Sea Lions held on in part because they got into the bonus early and made a string of free throws to help maintain the lead.

The game’s biggest sequence came with 1:08 to play.

PLNU guard Corby Barnes drove and drew a wing defender before passing out to Smith, whose third 3-pointer of the game made it 64-57. After a 3pointer from Fresno Pacific’s Ras Vang, Lifgren swished a 3-ball of his own — this one from the corner — and the lead was safe.

“Our roster has so many new faces on it, I don’t remember talking about the streak one time during the season for good or for bad,” Downer said. “All good things come to an end and it’s a credit to the last two coaching staffs for what was an incredible run. We’re focused on 1-0. That’s the only streak we’re concerned with.”

Next up: The Sea Lions host Hawaii Hilo (10-4, 4-1 PacWest) Saturday at 4 p.m. and Biola (10-4, 5-1 PW) next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

USD opens WCC play

Coach Steve Lavin’s Toreros (10-5) will find out quickly where they stack up in the WCC as their first three games come against Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga and San Francisco.

According to Kenpom.com, the WCC ranks 11th in league strength, with Gonzaga

(No. 28), Saint Mary’s (46) and San Francisco (47) as the highest-rated conference teams.

USD ranks 223rd in the Kenpom.com ratings; the Toreros are predicted to finish 6-10 in WCC play.

A victory over Saint Mary’s would stand out as USD’s best win since an 89-84 home win over Arizona State on Dec. 9.

The Gaels, whose best win came over No. 13 Colorado State on Dec. 9, have won 18 straight over USD.

Next up: The Toreros host Saint Mary’s (9-6, 0-0 WCC) at 8 p.m. today, and play at 7 p.m. Saturday at Gonzaga (9-4, 0-0 WCC).

Tritons open with BW win

Coach Eric Olen’s UC San Diego team (7-6, 1-0) has opened Big West play with a victory three straight seasons, the latest coming

Saturday with a 76-64 home win over Cal State Bakersfield.

It was a strong performance: Four Tritons scored in double figures, with senior guard Bryce Pope leading the way with 23 points. UCSD led by as many as 14 early in the second half.

Olen has gone with a starting lineup consisting of Pope, Hayden Gray, Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Francis Nwaokorie and J’Raan Brooks every game so far.

The Big West is ranked 15th, according to the Kenpom.com ratings. The Tritons are ranked 164th and projected to finish 11-9 in Big West play.

Next up: The Tritons visit UC Santa Barbara (7-5, 0-2 BW) at 7 p.m. today and Cal State Fullerton (8-6, 1-1 BW) Saturday at 6 p.m.