SAN DIEGO, Calif. – No. 7 Azusa Pacific took down PacWest leader and No. 16 Point Loma in overtime Wednesday night, winning 78-71.
 
The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with neither side able to grab a comfortable lead or control the tempo. In the first half, the largest lead came at the 2:51 mark when Azusa Pacific took a 31-25 lead off of a Ben Avera jumper. Point Loma would cut the six-point deficit in half on the next possession, as Ben Okhotin knocked down a three-point jumper to make it 31-28. Selom Mawugbe would convert two free-throw attempts right before halftime to take a 33-28 lead into the locker room.
 
While the first made basket of the second half was a layup from Mawugbe that made the score 35-28, it would prove to be the largest lead held by either team in the final 20 minutes of action. Over the next five or so minutes, Point Loma went on a 12-3 run to take a 40-38 lead with 12:59 remaining in the game. The Cougars would slow the run, scoring six unanswered points off of back-to-back threes from Ben Taufahema and Ken West, to take the lead back at 44-40 with 11:37 left. About five minutes later, Azusa Pacific held a 53-51 lead with 6:30 left. The Sealions once again strung together a run, scoring eight unanswered points and grabbing a 59-53 lead with 4:21 left. For the second time, it was Tuafahema slowing down the run, as the senior knocked down a triple to make it a one possession game with 4:00 minutes remaining.
 
With 2:39 left in regulation, Point Loma clung to a 61-58 lead. For the next minute and a half, the score remained unchanged until there were 49 seconds left on the clock. Jake Spurgeon stepped up for the Cougars, as he knocked down a three-pointer to lock things up at 61-61. The Sealions would take the lead back with 26 seconds remaining, by way of a Sterling Sommers layup that made it 63-61. The Cougars would promptly tie the game, as the ball found the hands of Mawugbe deep in the lane, who made a move towards the hoop and converted on his shot attempt to knot the game up at 63-63. Point Loma nearly won the contest in regulation, however, a made tip-in after the buzzer was waved off which sent the game to overtime.
 
In overtime, Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 71-65 lead with 1:39 remaining in the overtime period. While Point Loma trimmed the deficit down to one possession at 71-65, the Cougars would maintain the advantage for the entirety of overtime.
 
Once again, Mawugbe was a dominant presence for the Cougars. He recorded yet another double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while also collecting two steals and two blocks. Ben Taufahema (14) and Brennan Rymer (13) also reached double-figures. Noah Bundrant had a big day for the Cougars distributing the ball, as he finished with a game-high six assists.
 
The Cougars shot 43% (28-for-65) overall, including 30% (9-for-30) from three in the game. Azusa Pacific scored 34 points in the paint, and 16 second chance points. Defensively, the Cougars allowed Point Loma to shoot 36% from the floor, and 35% from three.
 
Azusa Pacific is now 17-3 overall, and holds the tie-break for first place in the PacWest. The Cougars return home on Saturday, February 8, as they welcome Chaminade to the Felix Event Center.