Tonight it was "retro-night" in the GSAC.

Azusa Pacific's 87-63 blitzing of Vanguard combined with Cal Baptist's 65-63 upset of Biola lifted the Cougars to yet another outright GSAC championship, their 12th in 13 years and the third straight. And the manner in which it was claimed was eerily similar to the fashion the Cougars employed to take their 2000 title.

Back then Azusa Pacific headed into its final regular-season game tied for the GSAC lead with arch-rival Biola, and even if it both teams won their last games and shared the conference crown, Biola would get the GSAC's automatic bid into the NAIA Tournament by virtue of sweeping the Cougars earlier in the year. That night in San Diego, Azusa Pacific took care of business and beat a very good Christian Heritage squad that would eventually go on to the NAIA Final Four. However, across town at Point Loma Nazarene, Biola stubbed more than just a toe and lost its right to the GSAC title with a 10-point setback to the Crusaders, giving Azusa Pacific the GSAC title outright.

Tonight it was déjà vu. Tied for the GSAC lead with identical 14-5 conference records, Biola and Azusa Pacific went into their respective final games needing to match the other's outcome to at least assure a share of the GSAC crown, and if they shared, Biola would get the NAIA automatic bid. And just as they did 5 years ago, the Cougars took care of business, beating Vanguard by 24 points. And just as it did 5 years ago, Biola again faltered, losing on the road at Cal Baptist tonight to give Azusa Pacific another outright conference crown and with it the NAIA Tournament automatic bid.

Five Cougars scored in double figures, and Azusa Pacific used a 14-3 run to open the second half to cruise in for its 15th straight win over Vanguard. The Cougar starting front of Brice Prather and Lance Soderberg combined for 28 points and 15 rebounds to control play under the bucket, and starting guards Larry English and Mike Hornbuckle registered a collective 25 points, thanks in part to 5 3-point buckets, to account for play on the perimeter.

Azusa Pacific ran a 39-31 halftime lead into a monstrous 53-34 cushion less than 8 minutes into the second half, eliminating all suspense about the outcome. Cell phones in the Felix Event Center stands began making connections to Riverside to get updates on the Biola-Cal Baptist affair which was too close to call. Even as the Cougars walked off the court with its victory, they still didn't know the final at Cal Baptist. The most recent phone report had the Lancers up by 2, but Biola had the ball with less than 30 seconds remaining. The good news call finally came 3 minutes later with the Cougars in their locker room.

"It's a little bit ironic that we win the GSAC with all that has gone on with this team," said Azusa Pacific coach Bill Odell. "Guys that we didn't expect to play much at the beginning of season, end up contributing a great deal. We didn't have a lot of continuity to our starting line-up, but so many players elevated their level of play because of us losing so many people. And really, that's what it's been for us this year. It's very satisfying to win the GSAC this year."

One of those "elevated players" is Hornbuckle, a freshman who at one point during the GSAC campaign put together a 7-game stretch in which he amassed just 15 points. However, he snapped out of that funk, and in the past 5 games the former CIF Player of the Year has tallied 93 points (18.6 avg.).

"We've been able to count on some guys," said Odell, "and Mike is one of them. He has turned around his game."

Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, finishes the regular season at 23-8 overall, 15-5 in the GSAC, a game ahead of No. 14 Biola.

"This is the most losses anybody has ever had for a GSAC championship" Odell added. "It's a great conference and it has hurt our rating because we have beaten each other up."

With the regular-season GSAC title in hand, Azusa Pacific heads into the GSAC Postseason Tourney as the No. 1 seed and will host Point Loma Nazarene Thursday (March 3) at 7:30 p.m. in the Felix Event Center. PLNU beat the Cougars 81-78 down in San Diego just 2 weeks ago. If Azusa Pacific gets by Point Loma, they advance to the semifinals host by Hope International in Fullerton, Calif., where they will meet the lowest remaining seed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (March 5). The GSAC Tournament championship game is scheduled for Tuesday (March 8) at 7:30 p.m. at Hope International as well.