Second Half Storm Leads to Cougar Win

AZUSA, CALIF. -- Azusa Pacific, the NAIA's No. 4-ranked team, used a 16-5 run at the start of the second half to take a commanding 67-54 lead and slowly increased the lead the rest of the way to pull out a 102-75 Golden State Athletic Conference victory over Point Loma Nazarene, Saturday night in the Cougardome.

Cougar forward Eric Wattree scored 7 of his 19 points during the Azusa Pacific run. The Cougars eventually ballooned the lead to 30 points (100-70) before settling for the 27-point margin of victory. Senior guard Tim Sebek led Azusa Pacific with 24 points, including 15 in the first half when he paced the Cougars to a 51-49 halftime lead.

Junior swingman Robert Amo Amo led Point Loma Nazarene with 17 points, but it was his hard foul of Cougar center Paul Perkins with 11:52 left in the game that seemed to send Azusa Pacific on its final run-away from the Crusaders. Amo Amo was called for the flagrant foul, and the Cougars responded with another 13-3 run to put the game out of reach with an 84-61 cushion with 8:30 left to play.

Junior guard Jason Mackenzie also dropped in 17 points for Point Loma Nazarene before fouling out with less than 3 minutes left in the game.

Cougar guard Chris Bethel, making only his second start of the season, chipped in with a career-high 15 points to aid the Cougar cause.

The victory was Azusa Pacific's 10th straight win at home and improved the Cougars' overall record to 15-3 and 2-0 in GSAC play. The Cougars have won 36 of their past 40 conference games. Point Loma Nazarene fell to 8-9 overall, 0-2 in the GSAC.

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Players Mentioned

#41 Tim Sebek: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#50 Paul Perkins: C; 6' 5"; Senior

#32 Eric Wattree: F; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#41 Tim Sebek
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#50 Paul Perkins
: 6' 5"; Senior
: C

#32 Eric Wattree
: 6' 4"; Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#41 Tim Sebek

#50 Paul Perkins

#32 Eric Wattree

Players Mentioned

#41 Tim Sebek

#50 Paul Perkins

#32 Eric Wattree