COSTA MESA – The Vanguard men's basketball team shot a season-low 30.8 percent in a 63-49 loss to No. 15 Arizona Christian on Thursday night at Orange Coast College.
The Lions fell to 13-6 overall and 3-3 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
The 49 points represents VU's lowest scoring output since January 21, 2017, in a 57-43 setback at Hope International.
The Lions also struggled to get to the free throw line, setting or tying a season-low for makes (2) and attempts (3).
The Firestorm also dominated the glass with a 50-25 advantage.
Leader of the GSAC in turnovers forced, VU continued to excel in that department, forcing 21 ACU miscues and turning that into 20 points.
But the Lions could not overcome a 22.8 (8 of 35) percent showing in the first half as ACU built a 29-20 halftime lead.
ACU finished at 48.3 (28 of 58) percent overall, although the visitors struggled from distance making just 5 of 24 attempts.
It was mostly a clean game from a fouls standpoint as each team was whistled for 11 apiece. The Firestorm went to the charity stripe only four times and made two.
Jackson Larsen led the Lions with 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. He shot 8 of 11 from the field. Preston Sims added 11 points.
The only double figure scorer for ACU was Trent Hudgens, who shot 7 of 13 overall for 14 points. Six other ACU players had at least six points.
What Happened?: The Lions started out with back-to-back Larsen buckets to take a 4-0 lead, but did not score again for nearly five minutes.
ACU ran off nine straight points to lead 9-4 as four different players entered the scoring column. Phillip Willis converted a layup and Micah Swartz canned a triple to even the score at 9-9, but the rim tightened as the Blue and Gold managed just one more point over the next seven-plus minutes.
The Firestorm went on a 9-1 run during that stretch – Tucker Molina accounting for five of those points – and led 18-10 at the 6:56 mark.
Nico Dasca broke the drought for VU as his jumper cut the deficit to 18-12, but the Lions went cold again for another four minute stretch. The Firestorm took advantage and netted 11 of the next 13 points to lead 29-14 with 1:44 to go.
VU picked up some momentum by notching the final six points of the half courtesy of another Swartz three and a conventional three-point play by Larsen, trailing 29-20 at intermission.
The Lions came out as the aggressor to start the second half and tied the score at 33-33, completing a 19-4 run that spanned the final 1:44 of the first half and the first 4:38 of the second. VU hit five of its first six shots in the second stanza, as Bryson Metz scored five straight and Sims knocked down two threes.
However, the Blue and Gold did not retake the lead as Hudgens slipped inside for back-to-back layups. Sims completed his own personal 8-0 run as his layup brought VU back within 37-35 with 12:49 remaining.
But the Lions went into another prolonged shooting spell. The Firestorm went on a 13-0 run and suddenly led 50-35 with 9:21 to go, with Lorenzo Wright scoring all six of his points during that period.
VU whittled the deficit down to 59-49 with just over two minutes to play as Sims drained his third three of the game, but those would be the final points for the Blue and Gold.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions entered the night in a six-way tie for first place in the GSAC, but still trail four other teams by just one game in the standings.
What's Next?: VU has another big game on Saturday against OUAZ. Tip time is 2:00 p.m. at Orange Coast College.
