SAN FRANCISCO -- Azusa Pacific outlasted Academy of Art in a 70-69 road win in the Cougars' final game of the 2018 calendar year. Azusa Pacific battled back from a 15-point second-half deficit to force 13 lead changes in the game, including six lead changes in the final seven minutes.
 
How It Happened: Azusa Pacific shot 47 percent (21-for-45) from the floor, while the Urban Knights went 26-for-60 (43.3%) from the field. From beyond the three-point line, the Cougars were 8-for-20 (40%), and the Urban Knights finished 4-for-12 (33.3%). Azusa Pacific posted a significant advantage at the charity stripe, as they made 30 trips to the line, making 21 free throws in the game. Meanwhile, Academy of Art shot just 17 free throws, converting 13 of those tries.
 
Turning Point: Azusa Pacific trailed for most of the game, as the Urban Knights led the game for 31 of the 40 minutes. With 4:38 left in the game, Academy of Art held a four point lead at 62-58. Senior guard Darien McClain rose to the occasion, as he scored eight of the Cougars next 10 points. McClain's biggest shot came with 19 seconds left in the game, as the Cougars trailed 66-65. McClain pulled up from beyond the arc, knocking down the crucial shot to give Azusa Pacific the lead for good, at 68-66. The Urban Knights missed a two-point attempt on their ensuing possession, as junior Jake Spurgeon grabbed the defensive rebound and was fouled. Spurgeon sealed the game by making two free throws on the other end, extending the Cougar lead to two possessions, at 70-66. Academy of Art hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to bring the final to 70-69.
 
Azusa Pacific Standouts: McClain and fellow senior Tyson Kanseyo served as the catalysts for Azusa Pacific. McClain and Kanseyo both finished with a game-high 15 points. McClain went 5-for-7 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from deep, while also adding two rebounds and two assists. Kanseyo went 5-for-6 from the floor, and also collected six rebounds, including three offensive, and two blocks. Junior Selom Mawugbe also scored in double figures, as he finished with 10 points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds and five blocks, as well as an assist and a steal.
 
Academy of Art Standouts: The Urban Knights had four players score in double figures, as Cameron Niven had a team-high 14 points, Victor Ruiz de Carranza added 13, and Andrija Blatancic and Dante Williams each added 10 points.
 
What's Next: The Cougars will have a 16-day break before their next game, as they open 2019 on Saturday, Jan. 5, against Concordia in the Felix Event Center. Azusa Pacific will enter the break with an 8-6 overall record, as well as a 5-2 PacWest record. The Cougars are currently fourth in the PacWest standings.