AZUSA, CALIF. -- All-Americans Kevin Daley and Jerome Joseph combined for 45 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the NAIA's No. 9-ranked Azusa Pacific to a 104-77 victory over Hope International in a GSAC game played at the Brea Community Center Saturday night.

Daley came within 1 assist of his first triple-double, finishing the game with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists. Joseph added 20 points on the strength of 5 3-pointers.

The Royals led 12-8 with 16:25 to play in the opening half, but a pair of Gary Dredge free throws sparked an 18-2 Cougar run, capped by a 10-foot jumper by Isamu Nichols that gave Azusa Pacific a 26-14 lead with 12:10 to play in the half. From there, the Cougars never looked back, pushing their lead to as many as 28 (99-71 with 3:27 to play). The Cougars, who missed just 10 shots (18-for-28) in the first half, led 54-40 at halftime.

While Hope tried to get back into the game by shooting numerous 3-pointers (9-for-38), the Cougars calmly pulled away by continually making their treys and banging the boards. Azusa Pacific shot 55% (12-for-22) from beyond the 3-point arc and beat the Royals on the glass, 51-25, including a 16-12 advantage on Azusa Pacific's own offensive end.

Nichols put together another fine game off the bench. He followed Tuesday's 14-point, 5-assist effort vs. Westmont with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists tonight against Hope International. And for the second consecutive Saturday, senior forward Damian Raibon tallied a career-high 18 points (he had 18 at Point Loma last week).

All 10 Cougars scored as Azusa Pacific reached the 100-point plateau for the second time this week and the fourth time this season.

Azusa Pacific has now won 5 straight and 12 of the past 14 meetings with Hope International. The Cougars improves to 14-3 overall, 4-1 in the GSAC. Meanwhile, Hope falls to 7-11 overall, 0-5.