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Azusa Pacific University Athletics

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Bryce Sloan dribbles the ball up the floor at Fresno Pacific
Matlyn Peden
84
Azusa Pacific APU 3-2,3-1 PacWest
94
Winner Fresno Pacific FPU 4-3,3-0 PacWest
Azusa Pacific APU
3-2,3-1 PacWest
84
Final
94
Fresno Pacific FPU
4-3,3-0 PacWest
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Azusa Pacific APU 32 52 84
Fresno Pacific FPU 43 51 94

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Long Distance Runaround

Cougars struggle with three-point shooting after a long layoff in a 94-84 road loss to Fresno Pacific.

FRESNO, Calif. - The Azusa Pacific Cougars played their first non-conference game since November of 2019 Tuesday night, falling at Fresno Pacific by a final score of 94-84. Bryce Sloan kept the Cougars in the game with a season-high 24 points, while Brennan Rymer and Terrence Becvar each had 15.

How it Happened: After a back and forth start, the Cougars' bench built an early lead for the Cougars, with junior guard Bryce Sloan making a pair of three-pointers, sparking an 11-4 run that put the visitors up 18-11.  That edge would be short-lived, as Fresno Pacific would answer right back with a run to tie the game at 20-20, led by the PacWest's leading scorer, Aamondae Coleman, who had 12 points in the first 11 minutes.  Aside from that early barrage, the Cougars had trouble targeting their long-range shots, opening the game just 6-26 from beyond the arc in the first half.  The Sunbirds were able to take advantage of that cold snap and open up a double-digit advantage of their own, leading 43-32 at halftime.

Turning Point: Azusa Pacific had fought their way back to within five with 8:22 remaining in the game, prompting a Fresno Pacific timeout at 60-55.  Coming out of that timeout, the Sunbirds knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, regaining a double-digit advantage.  The Cougars would fight back to within five again with just over two minutes to play, but Fresno was able to get an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and turn that into another three to keep the game out of reach.

By the Numbers: Sloan made six threes on the evening, but aside from him, the rest of the Cougars shot a combined 7-35 from beyond the three-point line.  The Cougars' high volume of jump shots led to very few trips to the free throw line as well, attempting only eight free throws on the night.  The Sunbirds shot 51% from the field in the victory and won the rebounding battle 40-27.

Up Next – The Cougars (3-2, 3-1 in the PacWest Southern California pod) now return home to renew the Cornerstone Cup rivalry against Biola (3-2, 3-1) Friday at 4:30 p.m., with a final meeting in La Mirada on Saturday.  The two teams split their earlier meetings this season, each winning on their home floor.
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