Vanguard can’t close the deal

Fresno Pacific scores the game’s final seven points to rally past the Lions in a Golden State Athletic Conference men’s basketball contest Saturday.FRESNO -- Vanguard University’s bid for its first road win in men’s basketball since late November came to an abrupt end.

Lesego Molebatsi converted on a three-point play with three seconds remaining to lift Fresno Pacific to a 70-69 victory over the Lions in a Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Vanguard (9-9, 3-5 in conference) hasn’t won on the road since defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills, 74-58, on Nov. 22.

The Lions had led since the 12:00 mark of the second half, going up by as many as eight points. Levi Seekins’ two free throws with 1:36 remaining gave the visitors a 69-63 lead.

Molebatsi took over for the Sunbirds (10-5, 3-4) from that point. The forward, who scored a game-high 23 points, made four consecutive free throws in between missed shots by Vanguard’s Brian Roberts and Seekins. After the latter’s missed jumper, Molebatsi scored on a layup to tie the score at 69-69, getting fouled by De’Auonte Johnson in the process.

After a 30-second timeout, Molebatsi sank the game-winning free throw. Vanguard was unable to get a shot off in the final seconds.

The Lions had grabbed control early in the second half after a back-and-forth first half. Seekins scored nine of his team-high 22 points in the second half, and Horace Wormely tallied 10 of his 14 points after the intermission.

Seekins also had nine rebounds and four assists to go with his points, making eight of 13 from the field. Wormely had four rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Brian Roberts was the Lions’ other player in double digits with 15 points and four three-pointers.

Vanguard shot 45.1% from the field in the game, and connected on nine of 19 from behind the arc.

Molebatsi, who grabbed six rebounds, was six of eight from the field and made 11 of 13 free throws. Rudy Lopez added 18 points for the Sunbirds, who shot 59.1% from the field in the second half and converted on 16 of 19 second-half free throws.

The Lions return to action Thursday night at Cal Baptist, the first of three games in six days. Following the game against the Lancers, Vanguard plays host to Hope International on Saturday and travels to Azusa Pacific on Jan. 24.

Azusa Pacific is the No. 3 team in NAIA Division I and was in first place in the Golden State Athletic Conference heading into Saturday night’s game at Point Loma Nazarene.

Golden State Athletic Conference

Fresno Pacific 70,

Vanguard 69

Score by Halves