COSTA MESA – Erik Howlin's career-high 24 points helped forge the difference in Vanguard's eventual 73-69 win over Menlo in the Pacific West Conference opener, Thursday night at the Freed Center. The guard went 5-9 from the field, 3-4 from deep, and 11-14 from the foul line, including three clutch makes down the stretch to hand the Lions their fourth win in five games, and more importantly, the conference opener.

The Blue and Gold improve to 5-2 and 1-0 in the PacWest. Menlo drops to 1-7, 1-1. The Lions are also now 15-8 in the all-time series against the Oaks, with all five of their last wins over Menlo coming down to single digits.

Graduate student Aibigho Ujadughele also sported a career-best for VU, with his tally coming in the rebound department as Boogie went on to collect 11 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

Bryson Metz, Tony Colley, and Sammy Howlin each collected nine points, with Colley and Howlin each shooting 4-5 and Metz picking up a team-high four assists.

Menlo had three players in double-figures, but was led by Nick High, who had 17 points on 6-10 from the floor.

What Happened? Howlin had the first bucket of the night after a steal from Pape Cisse led to an open look from downtown. The three-pointer was an omen for an overall decent shooting night from VU (44.% 24-54) as the Lions deposited five of their 13 three-point efforts in the half.

The Lions were out to a 7-0 start in no time after a free throw from Kalen Rains and another Lion three-pointer down the well this time from Ujadughele. Menlo opened their account through High's jumper, but Howlin had another look from deep to usher the hosts up 10-2 heading into the first media timeout.

VU's offensive wave poured on out of the break, but MC picked up the pieces to pull out an 8-8 scoring split with VU out of the timeout. Their rhythm was matched by a Colley corner triple (13-5) and routine buckets for Sammy Howlin. The big man did well to assert himself down low, dishing out a dime at the low post and singlehandedly sending out a 7-0 run to put the Lions up 21-11.

The Oaks started setting their roots amid a three-minute VU scoring drought to work their way back into the game. They also went perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe to make it a five-point game (23-18 VU) in the last 6:10 of the half. The Lions shot back with a Ujadughele trey and a pair of Cisse spin hooks at the block to pin the Oaks back.

Colley's rim-shattering slam on a coast-to-coast fast break was the finishing touch to a 38-27 Lion lead at the half.

The Blue and Gold committed just one turnover in the first half to MC's 10 and led in points off turnovers (13-0). A circumstance that Menlo evened up in the second period to fight their way back with a chance to pull out the win.

The Oaks trimmed the turnovers to four in the second period and used a dominant 22-12 showing in paint points to open the half on an 8-4 run. Despite a lane drive and finish from Metz (44-36 VU), VU's fortune did not improve as the Oaks cracked the Lions with a 12-2 run, thanks to five straight points from Quentin Thompson to take their first lead of the contest 48-46 with 10:49 to go.

Sammy Howlin stopped the bleeding with a basket at the rim as VU and MC squared off for a set of ties before the Lions snuck away to a three-point lead (55-52) thanks to free throws from Devin Carson and Erik Howlin.

Howlin continued to control the pace of the game to put the Lions back in front, as the guard scored VU's next seven points, including their only three-pointer of the half off a tough move off the dribble to make 62-55.

Menlo continued to play catch-up until the 3:14 mark, after a cluster of forced VU turnovers gave High the outlet to make it a one-point game (68-67 VU) with 51 seconds to go.

Going down the other end, Howlin reached into his bag to gain separation from his man and got fouled at the three-point line, heading to the charity stripe to cash in on a trio of decisive points to put the game to bed.

What's Next? Men's basketball will have a week and a half to prepare for their next match as they host Chaminade on December 15 at 7:30 p.m.