BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball won its third consecutive game knocking off No. 22 nationally-ranked Point Loma Nazarene University 74-67 Friday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
 
The Vikings improved to 3-2 on the season and 3-0 in Carver Gym with the seven-point victory over the preseason PacWest favorite Sea Lions (3-3).
 
WWU led by as many as 14 points midway through the first half, but PLNU battled back out-scoring the Vikings 34-19 over a 14-minute stretch that spanned the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half.
 
The Sea Lions took a 58-55 lead with 10:54 remaining in the game and the game was tied 63-63 with 5:01 remaining. A short-range jump shot by sophomore guard D'Angelo Minnis jump-started an 11-4 run to end the game to give the Vikings a third consecutive win in Carver Gym.
 
Junior guard Daniel Hornbuckle scored a team-high 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting (4-for-9 3FG) to lead four Vikings in double-figure scoring.
 
Senior forward Luke Lovelady, who began his collegiate career at Point Loma, nearly recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points on 4-for-6 shooting. Lovelady's inside presence helped lead the Vikings to a decisive 44-25 advantage in rebounds. Senior guard RJ Secrest and junior guard/forward Jalen Green each added eight rebounds.
 
Green finished with 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting and Minnis contributed 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting and led the Vikings with six assists. Junior shooting guard Lucas Holden poured in a career-high 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting.
 
Point Loma was led by a game-high 21 points from Eastside Catholic product Brock Mackenzie (7-for-14 FG). Luke Haupt added 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting and Brian Goracke had 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting.
 
WWU limited PLNU to a season-low .382 shooting percentage (26-for-68) and just 6-for-27 shooting from 3-point range.
  The Vikings (3-2) continue their seven-game homestand next weekend hosting and UT Permian Basin tomorrow with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Both games will stream live on Vikings TV and feature live statistical updates with direct links at wwuvikings.com/Live.
  The complete 2021-22 WWU Men's Basketball Schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/21-22_MBB, complete with links to purchase tickets and live coverage links for webcast and live stats.
  Fans wishing to purchase season tickets for the 2021-22 season can call the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6103 to reserve their seats for the upcoming season. Single-game advance tickets are also available to purchase online at wwuvikings.com/MBB_Tickets.
  One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 11 seasons. WWU is a six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and has appeared in the NCAA II Elite 8 three times. The Vikings won the 2011-12 NCAA Division II National Championship and advanced the following season to the NCAA II Final Four. Western has 20-win seasons in three of the last four years (and seven of nine) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is the 12th winningest Division II program with its 1,517 all-time victories.