Biola Defeats Point Loma, 60-55, for NAIA District 3 Championship

Point Loma Nazarene College led for most of the game but fell behind in the final minutes and lost the NAIA District 3 championship game to Biola College, 60-55, Tuesday night at Chapman College.

Biola (29-1) advanced to the NAIA national championship tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Point Loma (22-10) will defend its National Christian College Athletic Assn. championship next week against an opponent to be determined.

Point Loma shot 52% from the floor in the first half and took a 33-29 lead, but the Crusaders shot only 29% in the second half. Biola, which shot 55% in the second half, tied the game with 3:45 remaining and never trailed thereafter. Point Loma’s top two scorers, Steve Bruce and Clayton Williams, fouled out in the game’s final minutes.

Biola’s Jeff Martineau led all scorers with 17 points. Bruce had 14 points and Williams 11 for Point Loma.