AZUSA, CALIF. -- They said this would be the year that Azusa Pacific could lose the GSAC. If tonight's contest was any indication, the prognosticators could be wrong. The No. 7-ranked Cougars opened GSAC play with an 87-67 rout of So. Cal College, extending their GSAC winning streak to 12 games.
UCLA transfer Kevin Daley, playing against former Bruin teammate and current SCC coach Cameron Dollar, and in front of a host of other former Bruin teammates, rose to the occasion, riding a career-high 28 points, including 20 in the first half.
"It was great to play against Cameron (Dollar), but I couldn't do it alone," said Daley. "I had the hot hand in the first half, and my teammates saw that."
The Cougars jumped out to a 46-19 lead, and held a 59-28 lead at the half. A 12-0 run, aided by a pair of T.J. Walker dunks.
Subbing in and out, the Cougars cooled off a bit in the second half, making the score much closer. Azusa Pacific led by as much as 33 points (69-36) and scored only 2 points in the final 6:47.
"We know it doesn't matter if it's Westmont or SCC," said Odell. "We need that intensity."
Walker, the GSAC Co-Player of the Year, showed why he is regarded as perhaps the finest point guard in the NAIA, notching his first career triple-double, scoring 17 points, pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out 12 assists. He also added 5 steals to the mix.
"Everyone says that they are coming after us," said Walker. "We want to turn it around on them and come after everyone else."
Junior guard Jerome Joseph finsihed with 12 points. Vanguards center Jabari Simmons scored a team-high 27 points.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 14-2 (1-0 in GSAC) while the Vanguards drop to 5-13 (0-1).
The Cougars travel to Santa Barbara on Saturday for an early GSAC showdown with No. 4-ranked Westmont.
