ATHERTON, CALIF. – Sophomore guard Jeff Staniland, fresh off a career-high 20 points in Azusa Pacific's last outing, went a couple steps farther tonight, dropping in a new career-high 23 points to lead the NAIA's No. 8-ranked Cougars to an easy 82-54 victory over Menlo in the opening game of the Bud Presley Classic.
 
Staniland, who was not starting for the first time since December of last season, came off the bench less than 5 minutes into the game and promptly spurred a 12-4 Cougar run that turned a 9-9 tie into a 21-13 Cougar advantage, scoring 8 of his 12 first-half points in that 7-minute run.
 
From there, the Cougars maintained control and never relinquished the lead.  However, the Oaks took advantage of 4-minute Cougar dry spell in which Azusa Pacific missed 6 straight shots and 2 free throws to rally to within 5 points with 4 minutes left in the first half.
 
Azusa Pacific opened the game by missing 9 of its first 10 shots beyond the 3-point arc, but they finally found their bombing touch when Anthony Haggins, Scott Blake and Brett Michel buried 3 straight treys in 50 seconds to ignite a first-half-ending 18-2 run that gave Azusa Pacific a comfortable, 40-18, halftime cushion.
 
Staniland continued to initiate play in the second half, coming off the bench less than 30 seconds into the second frame.  He tallied 11 more points and finished the game 8-for-14 shooting. 
 
Haggins finished with 9 points and a team-high 6 assists.  Justin  Leslie, who was handcuffed with 2 first-half fouls, registered 10 points, including 7 in the second half that all came on second efforts.  Junior Gary Dredge filled in for the saddled-bound Leslie and snared a game-high 11 rebounds in 23 minutes.  Playing in front of his hometown friends and family, John Bourne recorded 10 points (8 in the first half) and 9 rebounds.
 
Menlo, which won the CalPac last year and advanced to the NAIA Division II Championship Tournament, falls to 1-2 on the season