ATHERTON, Calif. – Men's basketball could not make use of a 17-point lead at Haynes-Prim Pavilion, falling 72-71 to Menlo (5-23, 5-17) on Saturday afternoon. VU had a confident first half but were outscored 39-26 in the final 20 minutes, missing out on three potential game-winning buckets in crunch time.

Though the loss put VU (16-12, 12-10) in an awkward position for the last few coveted PacWest tournament spots, it does not detain their 2025-26 postseason berth. Results around the league currently sit VU in a three-way tie at 12-10, but the Lions have the head-to-head tiebreakers with all remaining suitors, planting them into the fifth seed now slated for their first ever PacWest Tournament appearance.

As for Saturday's matchup with Menlo, Kailen Rains came off the bench for a season-high 17 points (6-9 FG), draining four of his six three-point attempts. Erik Howlin and Tony Colley both had 12 points, while a trifecta of Lions each piled eight points: Sammy Howlin, Carson Frawley, Dylan Swillis.

The regular season finale could also stand as the last between Vanguard and Menlo for some time, as Menlo is leaving the PacWest for the CCAA next year. The series moves to 15-9 all-time in favor of the Lions, with five of the last seven decided by five or fewer points.

Vanguard was mauled on the glass 42-27 by the Oaks for the second-worst rebounding margin (-15) of the season. The Lions shot 43% (26-60) from the field, 7-20 (35%) from three, and 12-19 (63%) at the charity stripe. Menlo went for 49% (29-59) shooting and hit 5 of their 13 threes (38%), rounding out their shooting splits at 81% at the free throw line.

VU won bench points 34-22 and points off turnovers 21-11. The Oaks had an edge in paint points (42-34) and second chance points 14-3. Both teams got rolling on the break (13-11 MC) and were dead even in assists (12-12).

What Happened?
The Lions shot a scorching 60% (17-28) in the first half and 44% (4-9) from three. They also had a dominant trade in points off turnovers 15-4, while the Oaks kept up with a 9-0 lead in second chance points and 21-10 advantage on the glass.

Erik Howlin and Colley combined for the first three points of the contest for VU before the Oaks lined up a 9-3 run, keeping VU scoreless for five and a half minutes of basketball. Swillis tacked on two free throws, and Rains opened his scoring tab with a right wing triple supplied by Bryson Metz (11-8 MC).

The Oaks rocked in another steady scoring run, denying Vanguard a made field goal for another three minutes to lead 15-9. At the 10:50 mark, Howlin started to get in rhythm, connecting for six of the next eight Lion points. The Oaks tried burning a timeout to slow VU down, but Vanguard got racing on the break, with Rains plucking two steals and breakaway baskets, including a slamdown to make it 21-15 Vanguard with 7:58 to go.

The Vanguard train did not lose momentum as Swillis got to work on the low block, and the bench continued to set the VU scoring tempo. Carson Frawley's introduction at 5:56 sprang a three-point barrage, with the forward having all eight of his points in the half and nailing two threes at either side of the arc. Rains also added to the fire, with another spot up three, to seal his 11 first-half points (32-23 VU).

The Lions maintained a quickfire pace to finish the period. Colley helped himself to all three of VU's final field goal makes in the half for a 45-33 lead at the horn.

The Blue and Gold were held to 28% (9-32) in the second half, with just 3 of their 11 three-point looks dropping down. Menlo shot 53% (15-28) overall but took time to build into the half as the Lions had a 5-2 start with a Colley hitting from the left corner pocket.

The half continued to remain comfortable for VU through the first 10 minutes, with Rains giving VU their largest lead (17) with two threes and Sammy Howlin stamping a pair of baskets on the interior to keep it at a 16-point advantage (64-48) with 10 minutes to play.

That's where the game changed, Vanguard got cold, and Menlo got their legs underneath them. The Oaks used a 20-10 split in paint points, 18-8 trade in bench points, and 9-2 win on the break to put the Lions on their heels.

The Oaks charged in on a 14-0 run over the next four minutes and change to make it a one-possession game (64-62 VU) with 5:46 to go. They only missed two shots during the span (6-8 FG). Dylan Swillis spun on the inside for VU's first field goal make in eight tries, then Sammy Howlin pieced a block and free throw to take the Lions toward a three-point lead at the last media timeout (67-64 VU).

Heading into crunch time with 3:42 on the clock, the Lion offense once again went dormant, with MC hitting a go-ahead triple for their first lead of the half with 2:59 to go. Sammy Howlin went off glass to score three possessions later, but it was the last Vanguard field goal of the game with 2:14 to play.

The staggered offense spell also started infecting the Oaks in the closing moments, but not before MC's Quentin Thompson hit the game-winning three-pointer with 1:33 on the clock. It was only Thompson's sixth three-point make of the season, as the 20% (6-30) three-point shooter put MC up three (72-69).

Neither team could buy a field goal for the remaining 1:33, with Colley's pair of free throws being VU's last points. The Lions had three looks down the stretch, but could not stick the landing on a cut-out inbound pass. Their final shot at the buzzer was a decent look on the baseline, but the effort cracked off the inside of the iron to seal the loss in the last league game of the season.

What's Next? The Lions will play in their first PacWest postseason next weekend on the campus of Point Loma. Their opening round matchup will be against the #4 seed at 2:45 p.m. in Golden Gymnasium.