"No matter what kind of season, everyone wants to beat us," said Cougar head coach Bill Odell. "In the past few games, we've been complacent, and you have got to battle back. Today we did that."

The Cougars, who were upset by Western Baptist on Friday night, led the entire game, but allowed the Hawks to stay in it for much of the contest. However, the Cougars pulled away in the final minutes to cruise to the easy victory.

Junior guard Jerome Joseph and senior all-American guard T.J. Walker, who both scored a game-high 23 points for the Cougars.

"We just wanted to turn it up and let our offense come off of our defense," said Joseph, who has scored 51 points the last two games despite a dislocated finger on his shooting hand. "I am just coming out ready to play, and come out and make the little things happen."

The Cougars led 48-40 at the half, and used a 21-10 run in the second half to pull away. Walker scored 12 points in the second half to aid the Cougars run.

"After losing a game we should have won, we knew we had to come out and play hard," said Walker, who had a game-high 7 assists and a team-high 6 rebounds. "The intensity had to be there."

Junior center Justin Leslie added 14 points and sophomore guard Corey Smith added 10.

Chad Bickley led the Hawks with 16 points, and B.J. Casteel and Phil Ball added 12 each. Justin Coyle grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday when they host Bethany at 7:30 p.m. in the Cougardome.