Men's Basketball 2/23/2002 10:25:00 PM Gary Pine

Adjusted Set of Cougars Win at Vanguard

COSTA MESA, Calif. – Using a make-shift line-up and a unique rotation of its now 9-player team, bruised and battered Azusa Pacific muscled its way to an 85-77 GSAC victory before a standing-room-only crowd at Vanguard Saturday night.

Playing for the first time without starting forward Anthony Haggins (out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon) and his back-up Mark Gulina (out another 3 weeks with a broken thumb), the Cougars used a 21-8 run across both halves to overcome a sluggish start and an 8-point deficit to take control of the game and its tempo.

Junior guard Jeff Staniland, who because of the Cougars' dire need and the 205 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame found himself guarding players 4-6 inches taller and 30-40 pounds heavier than him, nonetheless led the Cougar comeback charge, employing, of all things, the free-throw line to inflict his damage on the Lions.  Staniland came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, including 20 in the second half, and made over half of his living at the charity stripe, burying 14-of-16 free throw attempts.

Even though Azusa Pacific took the lead for good 50-48 on a Staniland jumper with 12:14 remaining the game, Vanguard never let the Cougars get out of sight, and in fact pulled to within to 2 at 69-67 with 3:22 to play on a Josh Pierson 3-pointer from 24 feet out.  Yet Staniland kept Vanguard at an arm's length, scoring 13 points, 11 from the free throw line, in the final 3:30 of the game.

All-American John Bourne, playing with a broken finger sustained on his non-shooting hand in Friday's practice, registered 15 points, including 7 in a 6-minute stretch of the second half that allowed the Cougars to build a 9-point lead at 60-51.

Steve McIlwain, who returned this week from a concussion suffered in the Biola game on Feb. 12, added 12 points and 4 assists, while sophomore Brett Michel, starting in place of the injured Haggins, finished with 10 points, which included a floating jumper in the key that put the Cougars up 55-49 with 11 minutes to play.

"With what we have available off the bench now, I feel like there are times we have to have the 5 best players on the court," said Odell, "therefore Jeff may have to guard big guys."

Vanguard used its beefy frontline of Leviticus Williamson and Damion Morbley to record a combined 32 points and 18 rebounds.  In fact, the brawny pair led a Vanguard glass-cleaning force that crushed the Cougars on the boards, 37-30, while holding Azusa Pacific to just 3 offensive rebounds.

In an effort to limit Vanguard's overall presence the key, the Cougars had to be a force themselves.  The game was physical, producing 50 fouls and 8 players with 4 or more personal fouls, including 3 who eventually fouled out.

Azusa Pacific, which is second in the NAIA in free throw shooting, was a masterful 25-for-30 (.833) at the line. Vanguard, on the hand, shot itself out of a potential victory by going just 12-for-24 at the line, a 50% effort that was enhanced by the Lions making their final 6 attempts late in the game  (they were 6-for-18 at one point).

With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 22-6 overall, 14-5 in the GSAC.  Vanguard closes the regular season at 13-16 overall, 9-11 in the GSAC.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Steve McIlwain: G; 6' 1"; Senior

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

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

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

#32 Brett Michel: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

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

Players Mentioned

#11 Steve McIlwain
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G

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

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

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

#32 Brett Michel
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

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