Cougars Enjoy Breakout Over Hope

BREA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific was in need of a break-out game, a contest in which the Cougars excelled at both ends. Over the past 2 weeks they muddled their way to a trio of victories, none of which were overly impressive. Tonight, however, the Cougars looked deserving of the NAIA's No. 2 ranking, steamrolling Hope International, 103-67, in a GSAC victory that proved to be more than just another victory.

The Cougars scored 18 of the game's first 20 points in less than 5 minutes of play, banging home a trio of treys while making 7 of their first 11 shots. Junior guard Jeff Staniland led the way in the opening frame, scoring all 12 of his points in the first 15 minutes of the game. Mark Gulina came off the bench to score 12 of his team-leading 18 points in the first half as well.

Defensively, the Cougars were as sharp as they have been all season, holding the Royals to just 1 field goal over the final eight-and-a-half minutes of the first half en route to a comfortable 60-34 lead at the intermission.

The second half was more of the same as the Cougars built their lead to 41 (90-49) after Gulina drained 1 of his 4 three-pointers on the evening. At one point, the game became a 3-point fest, where 13 of Hope's 19 shots in a 9-minute stretch were from beyond the 3-point arc. Combined, the 2 teams launched 52 bombs from the 3-point line.

The Cougars put together a balanced and effective effort tonight. Six different players scored in double figures. Along with Gulina and Staniland, Ladrick Simon add 16 points, All-American John Bourne tossed in 11 and centers Gary Dredge and Matt Moore each tallied 10 points in the paint. Bourne led the team with 7 rebounds, but Simon, Gulina, Moore and Anthony Haggins each collected 6 rebounds of their own.

Hope's Keith Rickard led all players with 22 points, thanks in part to 5 treys in the final 9 minutes of the game.

With the victory Azusa Pacific has now won 18 straight GSAC games to tie the record for the longest conference winning streak, first set by the Cougars from 1992-94. Azusa Pacific, which is now 7-1 on the season, 2-0 in the GSAC, will go for the record outright Tuesday night when they host last year's NAIA semifinalist Christian Heritage at 7:30 p.m. in the Felix Event Center.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Ladrick Simon: F; 6' 5"; Junior

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

#24 Anthony Haggins: F-G; 6' 4"; Senior

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

#34 Mark Gulina: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#50 Matt Moore: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#53 Gary Dredge: C; 6' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#15 Ladrick Simon
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

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

#24 Anthony Haggins
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F-G

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

#34 Mark Gulina
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#50 Matt Moore
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#53 Gary Dredge
: 6' 9"; Senior
: C