SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific seemingly weathered every Westmont burst of energy, overcoming early Warrior runs in both halves to take a comfortable lead with 6 minutes to play.  However, Westmont had one last burst, and it came in the form of a 21-4 run at the end of the game to produce an 82-73 verdict and snap a 3-game losing streak to the Cougars.
 
Westmont took an early 12-4 lead, lost it, but regained a 7-point only to see Azusa Pacific come right back and take a 40-38 lead at the half.  A rested set of Warriors came out in the second half and quickly erased the Cougar lead, assuming a 4-point cushion on their own.  However, Azusa Pacific, patient enough to allow the Warrior adrenaline wear down, took control of the game, nailing clutch 3-pointers to move out to a 69-61 lead.  That's when the Warriors reached deep down and found enough strength to come back and knock off the NAIA's No. 8-ranke Cougars.
 
Westmont's Chris Clark led all scorers with 28 points, including 11 during the Warriors' final run and the go-ahead back in the final 2 minutes.  Along with Clark, teammates Adrian Phillips and Mitch Pierce got saddled with 4 fouls midway through the second half, giving Azusa Pacific the opportunity to make a run, and the Cougars did. 
 
Behind Anthony Haggins' 16 points and Caleb Gervin's 14, the Cougars methodically built their lead.  Gervin hit a long triple as the shot clock expired to put the Cougars up by 4.  Senior guard Steve McIlwain then buried another trey to push the lead to 69-61.  However Haggins and All-American John Bourne fouled out, leaving Clark to control the key during the Warrior game-winning run.
 
For only the third time this season Azusa Pacific surrendered more than 80 points, and just as uncharacteristically, they yielded 16 turnovers and got beat on the boards, 30-22.
 
With the loss, Azusa Pacific falls to 15-4 overall, 7-3 in the GSAC.  Westmont pushes its winning streak to 11 straight while improving to 14-5 overall, 8-2 in the GSAC.