AZUSA, CALIF. -- All-Americans
Kevin Daley and
Jerome Joseph combined for 52 points to lead the NAIA's No. 3-ranked and tourney top-seed Azusa Pacific to a 102-89 victory over Vanguard University in the first round of the GSAC Postseason Tournament.
The Cougars scored 61 first-half points and led by as much as 25 before settling on the 13-point win. Vanguard out-shot the Cougars and made as many free throws as Azusa Pacific. However, the Cougars managed 19 more shots and battered the Lions on the boards, 46-37, which included 20 of the offensive end.
"We know what we're going to get from Jerome and K.D.," said Cougar Head Coach Bill Odell, "they've been consistent all year long. I believe it's the other guys who determine whether we win or lose."
Daley, the 2000 GSAC Player of the Year, finished with a team-high 28 points and 11 rebounds for his tenth double-double of the season. Joseph, who tallied a career-high 38 in the last meeting with Vanguard, posted 24 points and 9 rebounds.
Damian Raibon added 13 points and freshman guard Jeff Staniland chipped in 12 to represent the "other guys" Odell alluded to.
Daley hit a 3-pointer to give the Cougars their first lead at 10-9 just over 2 minutes into the game, sparking a 21-4 run over a 7-minute stretch, capped by a crowd-pleasing reverse Daley dunk that gave the Cougars a 28-13 lead midway through the first half.
The victory erases the sting of last year's first-round loss to Point Loma Nazarene, marking the first time in GSAC Tournament history that a No. 8 beat the top seed.
"We definitely had that in mind and didn't want it to happen again," said Daley. "This is the last game in the Cougardome, and we didn't want to end it with a loss. We also have other goals in mind, like not losing to any team the rest of the way and winning 30 games this season."
Vanguard was paced by John Kohlhaas' game-high 32 points while All-GSAC guard Dennis Keane added 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
With the win the Cougars improve to 27-4 overall, while Vanguard ends the season with a 12-19 record. Azusa Pacific advances to the semifinals of the GSAC Postseason Tournament, where it will take on Westmont in a 7:30 p.m. contest Saturday night at Whittier College. The other semifinal pits No. 17-ranked Point Loma Nazarene against No. 7 Biola at 5 p.m.
