The Biola men’s basketball team traveled to San Diego Christian College on Feb. 7 to play the Hawks, who currently hold a conference record of 0-11. Eight minutes into the game, the Eagles found themselves down 0-15.
“We just didn’t come out ready to play,” said Senior forward Mike Kurtz. “They came out hungry, and I don’t know if it was a long bus ride or what was happening, but we just weren’t ready. They were rebounding and defending and we weren’t doing really anything.”
Biola eventually found their first basket when senior guard Pierre Zook drained a three off of a pass from sophomore guard Grant Corsi. The Eagles were able to slow down the bleeding with solid bench play. Freshman guard Blake Shannon Jr. scored nine points in 10 minutes and junior forward Caelan Tiongson grabbed four momentum shifting rebounds. Biola entered the half down 29-39.
“Coach always tells me to be aggressive when I get in [the game],” said Shannon Jr. “Our two top perimeter scorers Dakari [Archer] and Pierre were struggling a little bit. I kind of felt like it was on my shoulders to lead the team and thankfully I was able to do it.”
The second half told a different story for the Eagles. Zook scored 19 second-half points, accompanied by three rebounds and two assists, and sophomore guard Dakari Archer helped his team with a season high of four steals.
“The main thing [head coach Dave Holmquist] emphasized during the halftime break was rebounding,” said Corsi. “He was really keen on everybody getting rebounds and then getting stops on the defensive end, which I think everybody really did a good job of.”
The Eagles grabbed 19 second-half rebounds, 11 more than they did in the first. Biola outscored the Hawks 46-24 in the second half, resulting in a final score of 75-63.
“It was good that we made a run at the end of the first half,” said Shannon Jr. “Even though we were down by 10, we felt like we had the momentum. When we went into the second half, our three top scorers, Pierre, Dakari and Mike, started to play. When they start to play good, everybody else kind of comes around them.”
Biola’s next game is against the No. 2 Hope International University. Hope holds a season record of 21-2, while standing 9-2 in conference. The Royals will host the Eagles on their home court where they have gone undefeated all season. Biola lost to Hope at home 65-40 earlier this season.
“I think we have a good shot at beating them,” said Corsi. “They just came off their first loss this week against Arizona Christian. I think we’re playing well right now and if we go out to play, anything could happen. We definitely gotta win this game if we want to make a run in GSAC.”
