CLAREMONT, CALIF. -- Freshman Jeff Staniland's free throw with 11 seconds left gave Azusa Pacific an insurmountable 4-point lead, and the NAIA's No. 6-ranked Cougars held on for 66-63 nonconference victory over Claremont-Mudd.

Azusa Pacific, which led 30-29 at halftime, squandered a 10-point second-half lead with the Staggs charging all the way back to assume a pair of 2-point leads, the last being a 57-55 advantage with less than 4 minutes to play

After Claremont's Mark Holland missed a pair of free throws and a chance to tie the game at 61, Cougar senior guard Jerome Joseph hit a running baseline jumper to give the Cougars' some breathing room at 63-59. The Staggs made 1 free throw to pull to within 3 with less than 30 seconds remaining. Staniland then rebounded a Cougar miss, took the ball back to the top of the key and was eventually fouled. He missed his first free throw attempt, but banged home the second one to give the Cougars a 64-60 lead which Claremont-Mudd could not overcome.

Joseph led the Cougars with 16 points. Senior Kevin Daley added 15 points and a game-high 7 rebounds. Point guard Isamu Nichols tossed in 14 points and added 7 rebounds to his effort. Bob Donlan led Claremont-Mudd with a game-high 21 points, which included a trey with 4 seconds left that pulled the Staggs to within 64-63. Daley ended the game with a pair of free throws for the final margin of victory.

The Cougars, who have now won 3 straight and improve to 3-1 on the season, played without leading scorer Justin Leslie, who was sidelined by recurring pain in his right wrist which he broke during his 1997 freshman season.