FRESNO, CALIF. -- Azusa Pacific, which earlier today moved to No. 3 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, clinched an unprecedented sixth consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) championship with a 67-55 victory at Fresno Pacific Tuesday night.
The win, which is Azusa Pacific's 14th straight over Fresno Pacific, keeps the Cougars 1 game ahead of second place Westmont with 1 game left. The Cougars close out the regular season against 1-30 Point Loma Nazarene on Saturday in Azusa.
The Cougars led 34-30 at the half, and the Sunbirds closed to within 2 at 48-46 with 9:49 left to play. However, the Cougar defense stepped up and limited Fresno Pacific to just 9 points in the final 9 minutes of play, closing the game with a 19-9 run.
"After we lost to Westmont, we knew that if we were to win the GSAC, our defense had to step up and it did," said Cougar coach Bill Odell. "I'm proud of this team and it's GSAC championship, because this really is a team and their unity is part of the success this year. Plus, they played good defense."
Junior guard Jason Boswell led the Cougars with 17 points, thanks in part to 5-for-8 shooting from 3-point territory. Senior forward Jeremy DeVries tossed in 10 points, 9 on a trio of treys. Junior guard T.J. Walker was held to just 8 points, half his season average, but collected a game-high 10 assists and 3 steals in 29 minutes of play.
Fresno did a good job of frustrating us," added Odell. "They made a lot of shots with 2 seconds left on the shot clock. They coached a very good game. But our defense played very well when it had to toward the end of the game."
Azusa Pacific becomes the first school to win 6 straight GSAC titles in a team sport, but the Cougars haven't clinched this title out-right. No. 24-ranked Westmont upset No. 11 Biola in La Mirada tonight, 64-51, to remain a game behind the Cougars.
"Westmont winning tonight is going to help us prepare for Point Loma and not look past them," said Odell. "The guys don't want to share this crown."
The 55 points surrendered by Azusa Pacific tonight are the fewest allowed by a Cougar team since holding Cal Baptist to just 42 in 1989.
