SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Senior guard Daniel Hornbuckle hit a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime and Western Washington University men's basketball team out-scored Point Loma 11-9 in the extra period for a 91-89 road victory Saturday afternoon in Golden Gymnasium.

With the game tied 73-73 with nearly three minutes remaining following a Hornbuckle three-pointer, the game moved to the three throw line down the stretch. PLNU held an 80-77 lead with five seconds remaining, scoring its final nine points from the charity stripe. Hornbuckle took the inbounds pass from Lucas Holden, who ran the length of the court and soared above his defender draining the game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

In the five-minute overtime period, the Sea Lions scored the first five points to grab an 85-80 lead, but the Vikings answered with an 8-0 run to take an 88-85 lead. D'Angelo Minnis fueled the run with four points, including a go-ahead three-pointer at the 2:18 mark. Minnis hit another three-pointer at the 1:21 mark to put the Vikings ahead 91-87. A last-chance three-pointer attempt by Alaska Anchorage graduate transfer Tobin Karlberg fell short while being contested by Hornbuckle to send the Vikings to the two-point victory.

WWU improved to 5-1 on the season with four wins against West Region opponents. The Vikings are scoring in bunches averaging 93.5 points per game and shooting 51.4% for the season (198-for-385). 

Against PLNU the Vikings shot 48.4% (30-for-62) while connecting on 10-of-33 three-point attempts. 

Sophomore guard Kai Johnson was perfect from the field going 9-for-9 while scoring a career high 25 points, with 20 points coming in the first half. Hornbuckle added 18 points on 6-for-16 shooting, with 15 of those points coming in the second half and overtime. Sophomore forward Nic Welp contributed 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting. Minnis and Holden each had 12 points to round out five players scoring in double-digits. Holden led the Vikings with eight rebounds.

Point Loma (4-3) was led by 46 points on 18-for-32 shooting from two-time PacWest Player of the Year Kaden Anderson and 18 points from Karlberg. PLNU shot 47.3% in the game (35-for-74).

The game featured 12 lead changes and 10 tie scores. WWU trailed by as many as nine points at 58-49 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the second half, but erased the deficit going on an 18-9 run to tie the score at 67-67.

The Vikings (5-1) return home to host Capilano on Tuesday, November 29 on Native American Heritage Night in Carver Gym. The complete 2022-23 WWU men's basketball schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Point Loma:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2022-23 season:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season following Saturday's overtime win at Point Loma:

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 2012 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 1,528 all-time victories. Head coach Tony Dominguez is in his 10th season and 11th year as the Vikings head coach (28th overall at WWU) and is listed in the top 20 amongst active NCAA Division II head coaches with a .673 winning percentage (187-91).