SAN DIEGO---  In both team's 2023-24 regular season opener, the No. 11 Point Loma Sea Lions defeated the visiting Stan State Warriors 82-79 in overtime in the PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge at Point Loma's Golden Gym in San Diego.  John Wade III paced the Warriors with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals.  Dontrell Hewlett added 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists for the visitors.
 
FIRST HALF:  Stan State jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the first four minutes of the game capped by a Daniel Ameyaw dunk off a pass from John Wade III.  The Sea Lions went on a 9-2 run in the next four minutes to tie the game at 14-14 on a Coby Barnes' three.  Two Dontrell Hewlett free throws gave the Warriors a 23-18 lead with just eight minutes left in the first half.  Point Loma went on a 10-4 run to take a 28-27 lead capped by a Jake Lifgren.  A Tony Singleton three off an assist from Jeremiah Jones gave the Warriors a 36-34 lead heading into the locker room at the half.
 
SECOND HALF:  A Jake Lifgren trey capped a 9-0 run to begin the second half as the hosts took a 43-36 lead just three minutes into the new stanza.  Stan State came right back and an old-fashioned three-point by Dontrell Hewlett gave the Warriors a 50-49 lead.  The game went back and forth until the hosts took a 73-68 lead on two Lifgren free throws with just 35 seconds to go in regulation.  On their final possession of regulation, Jonathan Tchengang's lay-up off a pass from John Wade III tied the game at 73-73 with just 19 seconds to go in the second half.  Point Loma had a chance to win the game, but Daniel Ameyaw blocked the Sea Lion shot to send the game into overtime.
 
OVERTIME:  Point Loma scored the overtime's first four points to take a 77-73 lead.  The Warriors tied the game at 77-77 on two free throws by Jonathan Tchengang with just 2:21 to go in the extra period.  The hosts took a three-point lead (80-77) with 19 ticks in overtime.  Stan State cut the deficit to one (80-79) with only two ticks on the clock on a Will Chavarin lay-up.  The Sea Lions sealed the 82-79 victory on a two free throws by Jake Lifgren.
 
WHAT A DEBUT:  John Wade III and Dontrell Hewlett combined for 33 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals in their debuts as Warriors.  Wade scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Hewlett added 16 points and six rebounds.
 
18/12:  Stan State forced 18 turnovers by its opponent this evening including 12 by steals.  Of those 12 steals, four came by John Wade III and three by Tony Singleton.  Five Warriors had one a piece in Jonathan Tchengang, Daniel Ameyaw, Dontrell Hewlett, Will Chavarin, and Micah Boone.  
 
UP NEXT:  The Warriors will continue their season beginning six-game road trip tomorrow at 5pm when they face Fresno Pacific in the Second Round of the PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge in San Diego.  The Sunbirds lost to 68-63 earlier this evening to Cal State East Bay in San Diego.