COSTA MESA, Calif.. – Nate Pratt and Spencer Foster combined for 38 points and the NAIA's No. 3-ranked Azusa Pacific used a 13-2 run midway through the first half to cruise to a 106-65 season-opening victory over upstart Simpson University in the opening round of the GSAC Tip-Off Tournament at Vanguard University.
Pratt scored a career-high 20 points, 10 in each half, to pace the Cougars, who won their fourth straight season lid-lifter and their 11th in the past 13 years. The junior guard out of Stockton, Calif., who had a career-high 16 points in last year's season-opening victory over Montana-Western, drained 4-of-5 treys in tonight's win.
"I love season openers," said Pratt with a wry smile. "I'm excited, excited for the whole season ahead. I haven't played since last March, so this is great to be back out there playing for keeps."
Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Larry English's 3-pointer less than 4 seconds into the game but then struggled over the next 6 minutes with the undersized yet pesky Vanguards, who still trailed by just 2 points at 13-11 at the 13:29 mark of the first half. Sparked by a Pratt lay-up and his subsequent 3-pointer, the Cougars moved out to a 26-13 lead capped by a Lance Soderberg 3-pointer. Back-to-back jumpers by Foster pushed the cushion to 20 at 43-23.
Foster finished with 18 points, 16 of which came in the first half when he scored a third of the Cougars' 48 points. He also handed out a career-high 6 assists for the game.
"We weren't patient enough to let our offense work for us," explained Foster of the Cougars' early struggles when they missed 7-of-9 shots and committed 3 turnovers.
Eleven different Cougars scored, including 7 who made at least one 3-point basket. English finished with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting in just 16 minutes of play. Sophomore Jeff Bates came off the bench to tally 13 points in 21 minutes, joining freshman Adam Greenaway as the only 2 Cougars of the 13 who saw action to play more than 20 minutes. In all, the Cougars made 15 3-point baskets and overall shot 50% (38-for-76) from the floor.
"This was very similar to last year's season opener," said Pratt, referring to a 112-71 victory over Montana-Western in which Azusa Pacific made a then-school-record 19 treys. "We were making 3-pointers all over the place, which is a good thing but it's not going to be our core. We need to get the big guys going, because just like last year, the next game is a big one."
After 2 days at Vanguard, the GSAC Tip-Off Tournament moves to Hope International's Fullerton campus where Azusa Pacific will meet the NAIA's No. 12-ranked Lubbock Christian Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Darling Pavilion.
Simpson, an NAIA Division II member out of Redding, Calif., falls to 0-2 on the season and concludes its GSAC Tip-Off Tournament play at Hope International Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
