IRVINE, Calif. – The stage was set for a fun showing in Irvine on Thursday night as Concordia welcomed their rivals from Biola to town.

Concordia University Irvine had won the previous meeting in La Mirada by just one possession. The visiting Eagles were up for the rematch and the game was knotted at 44 midway through the second half.

Tim Adetukasi scored back-to-back buckets to erase a five-point deficit and give CUI a boost after halftime.

But then Biola rattled off a 14-3 run to take control of the contest. CUI only crept within six points the rest of the way as that big burst took the wind out of the sails of any potential comeback by the home team.

Kobe Sanders scored a team-high 16 points, while Adetukasi and sophomore Jackson Tucker each chipped in with 11 points apiece.

"Biola played exceptionally well," admitted CUI head coach Ken Ammann. "Both teams were ready and wanted the win but they executed better on both ends than we did. We played really hard but made too many costly decisions with shot selection."

"Can't keep making those same mistakes at this point in the season and we have to keep getting better," added Ammann. "This conference has been a dogfight all year and that isn't going to change so the six teams who finish well willl be the ones there at the end. We need to make sure we are one of them." 

As of Thursday evening, CUI sits tied for fifth place in the standings with rising Azusa Pacific.  APU just knocked off Academy of Art on Thursday and is also 7-6 in conference play just like Concordia.  Hawaii Hilo stands just half-a-game behind both squads in the seventh spot as that trio battles to move up closer to Point Loma, ART U, Biola and Hawaii Pacific with about a month to go in the regular season.

CLICK HERE for the updatd PacWest men's basketball standings

CUI gets a few days to regroup as it heads out to the islands for the always interesting 3-game Hawaii road trip.  The Golden Eagles first visit Chaminade on Tuesday, Feb. 6 before stops at Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo.

CLICK HERE for the updated CUI men's basketball schedule