Azusa Pacific defeated Academy of Art by a 77-62 margin in front of a raucous crowd in the Felix Event Center. The Cougars used a strong first half performance, as Azusa Pacific took a 41-23 lead into the halftime locker room.
 
How It Happened: For the most part, the two teams were fairly even in most of the significant statistical categories at the end of regulation. However, the Cougars posted a dominate advantage in free throws. In the game, Azusa Pacific made 31 trips to the charity stripe, and the Cougars knocked down 23 of their attempts (74.2 percent). Meanwhile, Academy of Art not only made a significantly lower number of trips to the line, but the Urban Knights also missed a majority of their opportunities. Academy of Art went just 5-for-14 (35.7 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
Turning Point: Despite Academy of Art trailing by as much as 24 points in the second half, at 49-25 with a little under 18 minutes remaining in the game, the Urban Knights were able to cut the deficit down to just single digits at 68-49 with 4:14 left in the game. Azusa Pacific would respond, as the Cougars put together an 8-0 run that would extend their lead up to 76-59 with 1:39 remaining. The 8-0 halted any thought of an Urban Knight comeback.
 
Azusa Pacific Standouts: Junior Selom Mawugbe was the game-high scorer, as he finished with 20 points, while adding nine rebounds, six blocks and three assists. Senior Darien McClain closed out the game with 19 points, four assists and two steals. Senior Will Ferris and junior Jacob Spurgeon also scored in double figures for the Cougars. Ferris scored 15 points, while Spurgeon added 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
 
Academy of Art Standouts: Stefan Milivojevic scored 16 points to lead the Urban Knights offensively. Early in the game, Victor Ruiz De Carranza helped jumpstart the offense, as he was able to consistently drive the lane and kick out to open shooters. Ruiz De Carranza finished with six assists.
 
Sixth Men: The Cougars received a much needed lift from the home crowd, much in part to the Azusa Pacific football team that was in attendance. Throughout the entire game, they brought energy and noise that sparked the Cougars, while making things tough on Academy of Art.
 
"I am very grateful for the fans and the football team tonight; they were great out there, as they brought an energy to the game throughout." – Coach Justin Leslie
 
"Having the football team come out to support us makes all the difference in the game; all of the energy they brought added so many positive things for us tonight." – Junior Selom Mawugbe
 
Up Next: Azusa Pacific, 18-10 overall with a 15-6 conference record, currently sits in fourth place in the PacWest conference. The Cougars will close out the regular season with a home contest against Dominican on Saturday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday's game will be Senior Night for Darien McClain, Will Ferris and Tyson Kanseyo, as the three Cougars will play their final game in the Felix Event Center. McClain, Ferris and Kanseyo will be recognized in an on-court ceremony prior to tip-off.