RIVERSIDE, CALIF. -- Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, set up its showdown with No. 10-ranked and co-GSAC leader Biola, with a 102-78 rout of Cal Baptist in Riverside, Tuesday night.
"Every time we play, we want to play well," said Cougar head coach Bill Odell. "The guys coming off the bench helped out tonight."
The Cougars trailed 2-0, and that would be the only time they were behind. A 10-2 run gave them a 10-4 lead, and after Cal Baptist cut it to 10-7, the Cougars outscored them 17-5 to put it at 27-12. Azusa Pacific took a 48-29 lead into the locker room, after All-American point guard T.J. Walker stole a ball at midcourt and dunked just before the buzzer.
The Cougar defense set the tone early and dictated the first half. They held the Lancers to 9-of-31 (29%) shooting in the half and forced 9 turnovers.
After an even first 8 minutes in the second half, the Cougars put the ballgame away for good, going on an 11-0 run over a 3-minute span to take an 83-57 lead. Corey Smith scored 5 of his 9 points in the run.
For the game, the Cougars shot 34-of-62 (54%) while holding the Lancers to 26-of-68 (38%). Meanwhile, Azusa Pacific outrebounded Cal Baptist 43-37.
Junior All-American candidate and GSAC Player of the Week Kevin Daley scored 19 points (8-of-9) and had 6 rebounds, while Jerome Joseph equaled him with 19 points and led the Cougars with 8 rebounds. Damian Raibon and Matt Reed each added 5 rebounds, and Reed recorded a game-high 3 blocked shots.
"We didn't start well in the game but we settled down and took care of business," said Daley, who has scored 69 points in his last 3 games.
Walker's 11 points makes him the second Cougar to join the 1,000-point club in as many games, joining teammate Jason Boswell, who entered it on Saturday. Walker now stands at 1,006 career points in just over a season and half. Walker also added 6 assists to his GSAC-leading total.
"It's no big thing," said Walker. "I would trade a win for that. We want a title."
The Cougars, 22-4 overall and 9-2 in the GSAC, will play a non-conference game against Hope International on Thursday night at CS Fullerton at 7:30 p.m. The Cougars already beat the Royals 119-55 back in November in Azusa.
"We have never played a non-conference game during my time here," said Odell. "In order for us to play well Saturday, we have to have good practices and a solid performance on Thursday."
But the big game will be on Saturday, Feb. 20 when they host the Eagles, who are also 9-2 after losing to Westmont 66-57 on Tuesday. The winner takes a 1-game lead with 2 to play.
