Cougars Handed First Loss

GOLDEN, Colo.. – National power Metro State, which captured the NCAA Division II title 2 years ago, may have the horses to return to the ivory tower. The Roadrunners used a balance attack and a physical frontline to hold off the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific for an 80-70 victory in the championship game of the Coors Tek Classic on the campus of Colorado School of Mines.

All 5 Roadrunners scored in double figures, led by Patrick Mutumbo, nephew of NBA all-star Dikembe Mutmbo, who dropped in 20 points while wearing down the Cougars. The Roadrunners used its lightening-like quickness to play 40 minutes of full-court pressure defense and then relied on the big-bodies of Mutumbo and Lester Strong to clean up the glass. The combination translated into Metro State out-scoring the Cougars 32-10 on second-chance points and points off turnovers.

Metro led the majority of the game but Azusa Pacific refused to fold, never allowing the Roadrunners to get more than a brief 9-point lead early in the second half. Behind All-American John Bourne's team-high 14 points and some timely 3-point shooting the Cougars rallied to take a 53-51 lead on a Bourne jumper at the 10:18 mark of the second half. Azusa Pacific still led 57-56 with 8:39 to play, but Metro responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a Strong steal and subsequent dunk that put the Roadrunners back up for good at 63-57 with 6:31 remaining.

Junior guard Jeff Staniland tallied 5 straight points to pull the Cougars back to within 2 at 67-65 with 3:48 to play but the Roadrunners buried 6 free throws down the stretch and held Azusa Pacific to just one field goal the final 4:15 of the game to seal the victory.

The Roadrunners led 41-36 at the half after controlling the glass and the pace of play. Metro State garnered 9 second chance-points and an additional 6 points off turnovers while the Cougars were blanked in both categories. Additionally, Metro State had 7 offensive board to the Cougars' none and out-rebounded Azusa Pacific 17-9 in the opening half of play.

By game's end, Metro State had out-rebounded Azusa Pacific, 31-22, which included 11 on the offensive end. Additionally, the Roadrunners forced Azusa Pacific into a season-high 16 turnovers while committing just 8 themselves.

Azusa Pacific suffers its first loss of the season and falls to 4-1 while Metro State improves to 2-0.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Jeff Staniland: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#30 John Bourne: F; 6' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#20 Jeff Staniland
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#30 John Bourne
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

Players Mentioned

#20 Jeff Staniland

#30 John Bourne

Players Mentioned

#20 Jeff Staniland

#30 John Bourne