TULSA, OKLA.- For 30 minutes, Azusa Pacific appeared to be headed toward the NAIA National Championship game. But in the last 10 minutes, Life (Ga.) showed why it has a national championship banner hanging in its gymnasium. The Running Eagles caught many breaks down the stretch, made the plays that win titles, and upset the No. 7 Cougars, 77-71, in the semifinals of the 62nd Annual NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. It is the second straight season that the Cougars have ended their season in the NAIA Final Four.
The Cougars led by as much as 9 (52-43) in the second half, but a 4-minute spurt in which the Cougar went 1-for-6 from the floor and committed 2 turnovers allowed Life to rally to within 54-53 with 7:49 to play. A Jerome Joseph 10-foot jumper followed by a T.J. Walker breakaway lay-up ended the Cougar drought and sent Azusa Pacific to a 58-53 lead.
The Eagles then went on an 8-0 run to take a 61-58 lead. But Walker came down and hit a 3-pointer to knot it at 61-61 with 4:26 left in the game. Life held a 63-61 lead when Kevin Daley scored a lay-up to tie the game at 63-63. Then after the Eagles took a 66-63 lead, Joseph, like he has all season, hit a 3-pointer to tie it up at 66. After Corey Evans missed a short jumper, Daley grabbed the rebound and dished it out to Walker. Trying to run the offense, Walker threw it inside to Justin Leslie, but Leslie had it knocked out of his hands, and Derrick Shaw took the ball in for a dunk. The very next possession, Leslie traveled, turning the ball over to Life, and Jamal Horton hit a 3-pointer to up the lead to 71-66.
Life made one of two free throws to make it 72-66, but the Cougars would not go away. Jason Boswell hit a 3-pointer to make it 72-69. The Cougars began to trap and seemed to force Life to call a timeout. But a questionable foul was called on Boswell and Horton made both free throws. Life would hit 3 more free throws enabling themselves to move to the national championship game for the 3rd time in 6 years.
"We got what we deserve," said Azusa Pacific head coach Bill Odell. "We stunk up the place and got beat. It doesn't matter if it's the first game of the season or a game like tonight. You play like that and you lose."
There were 8 ties and a pair of lead changes in the first half with the final one going to the Cougars who held a 34-33 margin after the first 20 minutes of play. Daley, Joseph and Leslie led a balanced attack with 8, 7 and 6 points, respectively in the first half.
All five Cougar starters scored in double figures, led by Joseph's 20. Walker, in the final game of a brilliant career, scored 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Daley scored 12 points with 9 rebounds, and Leslie had 10 points and 9 boards. Boswell added 10 points and 4 steals for the Cougars.
The Cougars end their season at 29-6. They won their seventh straight Golden State Athletic Conference crown, and complete the most successful 2-year run in GSAC history with their 2 straight Final Four berths.
