IRVINE, CALIF. -- As 5-time defending GSAC champion, Azusa Pacific is well aware that it is every GSAC opponent's bull's-eye this year. But knowing that fact, and acting upon it are 2 drastically different issues, and the Cougars nearly found out the hard way against Concordia.

The NAIA's No. 7-ranked Cougars rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to edge Concordia, 77-74, in Irvine, Calif., Saturday night. And the game wasn't decided until Cougar guard T.J. Walker (Modesto, Calif./Modesto HS) blocked a 3-point shot as the final buzzer sounded. Indeed, the Cougars needed every second of this game.

A lethargic Azusa Pacific found itself giving way to Concordia's game plan in the early going. Thus the Cougars trailed 36-30 at the half. The prospect of a major upset fueled Concordia which opened the second half with a 9-3 run to take a 45-33 lead with 16 minutes left in the game.

However, the Cougars roared back with a 26-6 run to assume a 59-51 lead with 8 minutes left. Still, Concordia would not go away and Eagles pulled to within 3 points in the closing minutes.

Senior guard Andy Newman (Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose HS), the Cougars' leading free throw shooter, missed 3 of 4 free throws with less than 2 minutes left that would have iced the game. And when Concordia's Kalim Scott buried a trey with 4.3 seconds left, Concordia was still breathing, down 75-74. Newman was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and this time canned both free throws to give the Cougars a 77-74 lead with 3.8 seconds remaining. Concordia's Josh Giles then had his 3-point attempt blocked by Walker as the final horn sounded to give the Cougars the win.

"We let Concordia run their offense and run the clock down in the first half," said Cougar coach Bill Odell. "The difference proved to be defensive pressure. When we picked up our defensive pressure, our offense began to open with easier shots."

Walker led Azusa Pacific with 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor and an 8-for-10 clip at the line. Senior forward Jeremy DeVries (Mt. Vernon, Wash./Mt. Vernon HS) added 15 points. Newman finished with 13.

"I had to tune the crowd out," said Newman of the 2 free throws he made with 4.3 seconds left. "I had the other missed free throws in the back of my mind, but I knew I had to step up this time for us to get the win."

The victory was very similar to last year's win over Concordia in the GSAC Postseason Tournament Championship Game, a 73-71 Cougar verdict, decided when Bryan Lucas made a pair of free throws with less than 2 seconds left in the game. And though Concordia is playing .500 ball this year, it continues to give the Cougars all they can handle.

"We came in lackadaisical," said Walker. "We knew we had to pick up the intensity and coach told us so at halftime."

With the win, the Cougars improve to 17-3 on season and 2-0 in the GSAC. Concordia falls to 10-9 overall, 1-1 in the GSAC.