The Point Loma Nazarene University men’s basketball team’s season came to a close on Monday, March 17 in the Sweet 16 against Cal State Dominguez Hills in a tight bout, 58-61. PLNU finished the season 29-6, won the PacWest Conference and was the No. 1 seed in the West region.
The 2025 club improved on both ends of the ball. Last year’s team averaged 72.3 points per game and allowed 70.1. This season, the Sea Lions averaged 74.9 and gave up 66.4, ranking them fourth and first in the PacWest, respectively. Fourth-year guard Coby Barnes said the return of fifth-year forward Luke Haupt contributed greatly to the defensive uptick.
“I think the biggest thing that sparked that change was mainly just having everybody come back,” Barnes said. “Also, having Luke [Haupt] back has really helped us … I feel like everyone’s comfortable and has the experience and has the confidence to go out there and execute.”
Haupt returned to the team this year after having to miss the 2023-24 season due to rehab and recovery for a torn ACL sustained at the end of the 2022-23 season. Haupt was All-PacWest first team in 22-23; this season, he returned to the All-PacWest first team alongside sixth-year guard Zackry Paulsen. Haupt averaged 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game on 49.8% shooting from the field. Barnes said his return unlocked a lot for this year’s squad.
“He’s a great player on both sides of the ball,” Barnes said. “He guards other teams’ best player basically every night, which is a tall task, and then he runs the point guard and handles pressure well for us … he can get to the paint, he’s shooting at a high clip and he’s a great leader.”
Paulsen led the team in scoring this season, averaging 17.4 points per game on 49.7% shooting from the field and 40.6% from beyond the arc. Paulsen attributes most of the success of the season to the buy-in of the team and the willingness to work for one another.
“Our belief in each other and the type of people we have on the team,” Paulsen said. “We are truly a part of something bigger than ourselves, and we all believe that.”
Barnes echoed the same sentiment.
“What I attribute most of our success to is our camaraderie, our closeness,” Barnes said. “I think when you truly love and care about the people you’re playing with and you’re close and you are friends off the court with them, it makes it really easy to play with them.”
The 29 wins of this year’s team matches that of the team two seasons ago, and both teams fell in the Sweet 16, as the 22-23 squad lost to Cal State San Bernardino. The 2023-24 team that lost to Azusa Pacific in the PacWest tournament was without the two best players of the year prior: three-time PacWest Player of the Year Kaden Anderson (out of eligibility) and Luke Haupt (knee injury).
There could be a similar situation next year, as leading scorer Paulsen is out of eligibility and Haupt’s future at PLNU is uncertain, as this was his fifth year at PLNU. Due to the COVID year rewarded by the NCAA and a medical redshirt last year, Haupt may be able to return for another season.
Either way, PacWest Coach of the Year Justin Downer has created a strong team culture that players don’t want to end.
“I didn’t want to lose for myself but more importantly, the seniors,” second-year guard Tyce Paulsen said. “I never wanted it to be my last game with that group of guys.”
Makenna Richardson