IRVINE, Calif. -- The NAIA’s defending national champion Concordia used an impressive inside game and constant defensive pressure to manhandle the NAIA’s No. 11-ranked Azusa Pacific into a 71-55 Golden State Athletic Conference victory Thursday evening in the CU Arena.

The Eagles’ frontcourt tandem of Nick Vanderlaan (12 points, 15 rebounds) and Tanner Luster (18 and 12) combined for 30 points and 27 rebounds to give all the offensive presence Concordia needed. Torin Beeler and Jeremy Groth did the defensive work by holding Azusa Pacific’s top 2 scorers, Brett Michel and Ryan Dillon to just 2-for-21 combined shooting. The end result was Azusa Pacific’s worst conference loss since 1996.

A year ago the Cougars shot lights out (59%) in 2 regular-season victories over Concordia, paving the way to their tenth GSAC crown in the past 11 years. The Eagles learned their lesson and zeroed in on Azusa Pacific’s offensive weapons tonight, holding the Cougars to a season-low 33% (20-for-60) shooting.

Concordia, which is ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, blew open a good game with a 15-1 run to start the second half, assuming a 47-27 lead while holding Azusa Pacific without a field goal in the first 6 minutes of the half.

Brice Prather led Azusa Pacific off the bench with 14 points, the only Cougar in double digits.

The loss snaps Azusa Pacific’s 11-game losing streak and drops the Cougars to 13-4 overall, 4-1 in the GSAC. Concordia, which now has an 11-game winning streak, moves to 11-1 overall and takes over sole possession of first place in the GSAC at 4-0.