SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- In its ugliest offensive showing of the year, the NAIA's No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific avenged its only GSAC loss of the season with a 70-62 victory over Westmont in a GSAC men's basketball game in Santa Barbara, Tuesday night.
The Cougars shot just 41% (24-for-58) from the floor and were out-rebounded by a hefty 46-33 margin. But the Cougars forced 25 Warrior turnovers and "held" Warrior standout Brian Gomes to 11 points and 15 rebounds.
"I knew the defense would do it for us," said Cougar coach Bill Odell. "Our play at the defensive end made up for our miscues on offense. I was pleased with our physical play on Gomes."
In the first meeting between these 2 teams back on Jan. 20, Westmont upset Azusa Pacific, 93-90, in Azusa thanks to great play of Gomes, who registered 29 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. This time, however, the Cougars had a different game-plan for Gomes and kept him in check. Azusa Pacific led 30-21 at the half as Gomes headed to the locker room with just 1 point and 3 fouls.
"Ever since I came to APU, I had no problem vs. big men," said Cougar forward Micah Sullivan, who Gomes ate alive in the first meeting but found to be a much more challenging defender this time around. "Because of my play tonight, this gives me more confidence going into GSAC playoffs."
The victory gives Azusa Pacific sole possession of first place in the GSAC, a game ahead of Westmont, with just 3 regular season games left on the slate.
Junior guard T.J. Walker (Modesto, Calif./Modesto HS) led the Cougars with 13 points, 4 assists and 3 steals. Sullivan added 10 points, while Corey Smith (San Dimas, Calif./San Dimas HS) snapped out of 2-week scoring drought with 10 points and 3 steals off the bench. Senior Jeremy DeVries (Mt. Vernon, Wash./Mt. Vernon HS) added 9 points to go along with a team-high 7 rebounds and nailed a pair of treys in the stretch drive to propel the Cougars.
Westmont, which was paced by Ken Knabke's 15 points and 12 rebounds, rallied from its 9-point halftime deficit to tie the score at 50-50. However, the Cougars closed the game with a 20-12 run. Now with the victory, the Cougars are in a prime spot to capture an unprecedented sixth straight GSAC title.
"This was probably our best defensive effort of the year," said Walker, who earlier today was named NAIA National Player of the Week for his 52 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists and 8 steals in 2 Cougar wins last week. "We might not have performed on the offensive end, but we knew that our defense would shut them down and not let them score."
With the win, Azusa Pacific's eighth straight, the Cougars improve to 25-4 overall, 10-1 in the GSAC. Westmont falls to 19-7 overall, 9-2 in the GSAC.
