AZUSA, CALIF. -- The NAIA's No. 6-ranked Azusa Pacific used a 19-4 run early in the second half to take control and beat The Master's, 91-77, to win the championship of the Cougar Classic for the second consecutive year, and in the process snap The Master's 8-game winning streak.

With the scored knotted at 39-39 just 2 minutes into the second half, the Cougars, who had struggled on offense throughout the first half, seemed to push it into fifth gear that jetted the 19-4 run to put Azusa Pacific up 58-43 with 11:42 left in the game. Five different Cougars scored during the run, but it was junior guard Jason Boswell, who did the most damage, scoring 6 of his game-high 25 points during the run.

The Master's got no closer than 9 points (68-59) in the final 10 minutes as the Cougars held on for their fifth straight win, and their second this season over The Master's (APU beat TMC, 88-79, in Santa Clarita on Nov. 29). All-tourney pick Jeremiah Cathey led The Master's with 19 points, including 11 in the second half.

A see-saw first half that produced 8 leads changes and a pair of ties ended with Azusa Pacific taking a 39-34 lead into the locker room. The Master's stifled its own offensive production with a whopping 16 first half turnovers, including 6 in the final 7 minutes that allowed Azusa Pacific to overcome a 26-22 deficit. The Mustangs canned 14-of-28 first half shots, including 6-of-12 from 3-point territory. Additionally, they out-rebounded the Cougars, 17-15, and held Azusa Pacific to just 12-for-27 shooting. But turnovers cost them.

"I thought that we were flat in the first half," said Cougar coach Bill Odell, "but we played good defense to keep the score close. In the second half, we had a lot better intensity and effort to get a comfortable lead."

Tournament MVP T.J. Walker aided the Azusa Pacific cause with 14 points, including 8 in the final 6 minutes to keep The Master's at bay. Walker also had 5 assists and 3 steals.

"I played well in spurts but had a more solid game last night than tonight," said Walker. "But we got the win and that's all that counts."

Senior guard Andy Newman added 17 points, including 14 in the second.

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 13-2 on the season. The Master's falls to 11-5, suffering its first loss in a month and its first since falling to the Cougars back on Nov. 29.
 

ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
T.J. Walker, Azusa Pacific -- MVP
Jason Boswell, Azusa Pacific
Jeremiah Cathey, The Master's
Joey Penberthy, The Master's
Eric Sanchez, Western State
Alphonso Niles, Concordia