SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Ric Reed, Dennis Vanzant and Mike Leatherby combined for 82 points as Azusa Pacific rolled to an easy 98-78 victory over Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) in the opening game of the 10th Annual Point Loma Tournament in San Diego, Thursday afternoon.

Behind the sharp-shooting of the aforementioned triumvirate, the Cougars raced out to a 24-point lead at 38-14 and held the Tigers at bay the rest of the way, managing a 50-31 lead at halftime.  From there, the teams traded baskets over the final 20 minutes of play, with the first 12 minutes of the game having already determined the eventual winner.

Topping the Cougars in scoring for eighth time in 11 games this year, Reed finished with a season-high 33 points, followed by Vanzant equaling his season-high at 28, while Leatherby tossed in 21.  The Cougars shot at at an impressive .586 (41-for-70) clip from the floor, while holding the Tigers to a cool .417 (35-for-84) pace.  APC out-rebounded Olivet Nazarene by a 48-40 count, led by Vanzant's team-high 13 followed by Leatherby with 8.  Senior guard Jeff Butler spearheaded the electric Cougar offense, collecting 14 assists during the game.

Olivet Nazarene was led by Jim Shoff's 25 points.

With the victory the Cougars move to 9-2 on the season, while pushing their winning streak to 5 in a row.  They'll take on the University of San Diego, a 70-49 first-round winner over Biola, in Friday's semifinals at 7 p.m. in Golden Gymnasium.