AZUSA, Calif. – Behind a balanced offensive attack, Azusa Pacific ran their season-best winning streak to three, defeating Westmont 77-64 Wednesday evening inside the Felix Event Center. Six different Cougars scored in double figures in the victory.
How It Happened: The game saw an unusually long feeling-out process, to be expected given that this was the first meeting between the two schools in 12 years. Over the first 14 minutes of the game, neither side led by more than one possession, save for a brief moment following a Bryce Sloan three that saw the home team up 14-9, but Westmont would answer with a three of their own the very next trip down the floor, and the game would continue neck-and-neck into the latter minutes of the first half, with the teams seeing seven ties and six lead changes.
Turning Point: The run that put the Cougars ahead for good started with a Nate Kleppe steal, which led to a Ken West three pointer, putting Azusa Pacific in the lead at 21-20. After a defensive stop, West found an open Michael Saba for another three. The next time down, it was Ethan Speaker getting a layup. After that, Nate Kleppe scored eight points in a span of four possessions. By the time George Reidy threw down a fast break dunk with 39 seconds left before halftime, the Cougars had gone on a 20-4 outburst over five minutes that put them ahead by 14 points.
Coming out of halftime, the Cougars opened the second half on another 11-2 run that would stretch the lead to 21 points, and the home team would lead by as many as 23 before the Warriors would go on a late run to briefly climb within single digits. But by that point, the clock had run down to under 90 seconds and Azusa Pacific was able to salt the game away by making seven out of eight free throws down the stretch to secure a third consecutive win on this five-game home stand.
By the Numbers: Speaker had a double double to pace the offense, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. But it was truly a group effort, as all five starters scored in double figures – West and Sloan with 13 apiece, Kleppe and Reidy each with 10–and Allen McBride provided one of his best ever offensive performances with 11 off the bench. The Cougars were nearly perfect from the free throw line, making 16 out of 17 attempts on the evening. Azusa Pacific also dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 48-28, including 18 offensive rebounds that were converted into 15 second chance points. While the teams had not played each other since 2012, the Cougars added to their narrow lead in the all-time series at 47-42.
Up Next: Azusa Pacific (5-9, 4-3 PacWest) will look to run their winning streak to four games when they take on their rival Biola on Saturday in the latest installment of the Cornerstone Cup series. Tip-off inside the Felix Event Center is scheduled for 4:30 p.m
POSTGAME INTERVIEW: ETHAN SPEAKER & KEN WEST
