SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific opened a two-game road trip to the Bay Area with a 73-65 win over Dominican Monday night in San Rafael, and junior forward Selom Mawugbe claimed the program's career blocked shots record from head coach Justin Leslie, who held the previous career mark of 168 for the past 17 years.

Mawugbe entered the game needing just one block to tie Leslie, and he took care of the record in the first nine minutes of action, blocking a layup attempt just four minutes in to tie record before he notched the record-breaking block with 11:07 left in the first half on an Ezra Talbert jumper.

For the second straight game, the Cougars scored the first points of the game and never trailed throughout the entire contest. Senior Will Ferris hit a three-pointer just 45 seconds into the game, giving the Cougars the early 3-0 lead.
 
How It Happened: Azusa Pacific shot 46 percent (27-for-59) from the floor, while Dominican shot 25-for-61 (41%) overall. While neither team shot well from behind the three-point line, the Cougars went 7-for-26 (26.9%), while Dominican went just 3-for-16 (18.8%) from deep, giving the Cougars a 12-point advantage in that category. Azusa Pacific posted its most significant advantage in second chance points, as the Cougars scored 19 points off its 11 offensive rebounds, compared to just eight points on seven offensive rebounds for the Penguins. Overall, Azusa Pacific outrebounded Dominican by a 40-34 margin.
 
Turning Point: Azusa Pacific held its biggest lead of the game at 58-45, with 8:55 left in regulation, off a layup by Ferris. Over the next five minutes, Dominican was able to trim the lead back down to a more manageable deficit, as the Cougars held just a four-point lead at 63-59 with 3:42 left in the game. The Cougars scored the next five points, as Ferris made a free throw, sophomore Gerritt Beetstra made a layup, and senior Darien McClain knocked down a pair of free throws to give Azusa Pacific a 68-59 lead with just 53 seconds on the clock. Dominican was held at bay for the remainder of the contest, as the Cougars lead would not shrink below seven in the final minute.  
 
Azusa Pacific Standouts: For the second straight game, Ferris scored 20 points or more, as he finished with a game-high 22 points. Ferris made five field goals from beyond the arc and also had three assists in the contest. Junior Selom Mawugbe had another huge game for the Cougars with 17 points on perfect 8-for-8 shooting, while also adding nine rebounds, four blocks, and a steal. McClain also scored in double figures, as he finished with 15 points along with four rebounds, three assists, and a block. Junior Noah Bundrant helped guide Azusa Pacific to its fourth PacWest win with seven rebounds (three offensive), a game-high six assists, as well as a block and a steal. Junior Jake Spurgeon added six points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
 
Dominican Standouts: Four Penguins scored in double figures, led by Cedric Thomas' team-high 20-point effort. He was joined by Jordan Williams, who scored 13 points, and Ezra Talbert and Christian Futch, who each finished with 10 points. Futch recorded a double-double in the game, as he grabbed 11 rebounds. Futch also had a team-high four assists.
 
What's Next: The Cougars will close out 2018 on Wednesday, Dec. 17, as they will take on Academy of Art. Azusa Pacific, currently 7-6 overall with a 4-2 PacWest record, will return to action after the New Year by hosting a pair of teams which remain undefeated in PacWest play when Concordia (Jan. 5) and Point Loma (Jan. 7) visit the Felix Event Center.