IRVINE, Calif. – Azusa Pacific picked up a victory on Friday afternoon in day one of the Aramark GNAC/PacWest Challenge, as the Cougars defeated Seattle Pacific 72-57.

The game started out with a back-and-forth pace, as there were six lead changes in the first seven minutes of action. The largest lead of the first half was held by the Falcons at 31-24 with 4:36 remaining. Azusa Pacific closed out the first half on a 11-0 run to grabbed the momentum, as the Cougars entered the halftime locker room up 35-31.

While Azusa Pacific maintained the lead throughout the second half, the game stayed within single digits for the majority of the half and would be as close as three points at 51-48 with 9:19 left in regulation. A dunk by Selom Mawugbe at the 6:19 mark pushed the Cougars' lead up to 63-53, as Azusa Pacific would hold a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.

It was a physical game throughout, something that head coach Peter Bond expected. "Seattle Pacific has always been a team that is very physical and does not make it easy on opponents," said Coach Bond, "their physicality really bothered us in the first few minutes but our guys responded and found a rhythm offensively." The Cougars had five turnovers in the first six minutes of action.

Azusa Pacific made it a point to get the ball inside to the duo of Mawugbe and Jake Spurgeon, as each finished with 15 points in the game and the Cougars combined for 32 points in the paint. Mawugbe finished with a double-double, as he had 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal, while Spurgeon tallied six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Brennan Rymer also finished in double figures for the Cougars, as he scored 14 points.

As a team, Azusa Pacific shot 43% from the field and 35% from deep. The Cougars received 21 points from their bench, led by eight points apiece from Terrence Becvar and Ken West.

"Overall, I felt that we stuck to our style and our identity today," said Coach Bond, "we have played against opponents with very unique styles of play, and it is important that we do not try to play like them."

For the second straight weekend the 3-1 Cougars will follow up a Friday victory with a quick turnaround on Saturday. Azusa Pacific will be back in action tomorrow against Western Washington at 2:00 p.m. The game will be held at Concordia-Irvine.