AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific neutralized the biggest strength that Young Harris (Ga.) College brought into Friday's visit to the Felix Event Center, out-rebounding the Mountain Lions and winning the frontcourt battle at both ends of the floor in an 87-75 win Friday night.

Junior forward Joey Schreiber scored a team-high 20 points, leading a group of four Cougar big men who all scores in double figures in the victory. Azusa Pacific also posted a 40-37 rebounding edge over a Young Harris squad which entered the game averaging nine more rebounds per game than its opponents so far this year.

Sophomore forward Austin Dyer added 17 points and seven rebounds, hitting six-of-eight attempts from the floor, and sophomore Petar Kutlesic 13 points and six rebounds while juniorWill Ward registered 12 points and seven rebounds to round out the Cougars' outstanding frontcourt production.

Young Harris never led by more than two points, and even though the Cougars took the lead for most of the game, it wasn't until just over five minutes remained in the game when the margin expanded to double figures after Bruce English converted a Connor Peterson steal into a short jumper that pushed the lead to 73-62 with 5:24 left in the game.

Young Harris climbed back within six points at 76-70 with just two minutes left, but Peterson's layup on the next possession was followed by a Schreiber tip-in that pushed the lead back to nine, 80-71 with less than a minute to play. The Cougars hit seven-of-eight free throws in that final minute to seal the win.

Azusa Pacific has now won four straight to improve to 5-1 on the year heading into next week's start to Pacific West Conference play with a visit to Point Loma Thursday (Dec. 3) before hosting California Baptist (Dec. 5). Young Harris fell to 1-5 on the year, and the Mountain Lions wrap up their three-game Southern California road trip with a Saturday visit to Cal Poly Pomona.