AZUSA, Calif. – Playing in its third game in five days, Azusa Pacific earned a 71-58 win over Hawai'i Pacific, capturing its second win over the Sharks in just two weeks. The win snapped a three-game losing streak after the Cougars had previously won five straight, including the 81-75 win over Hawai'i Pacific on Jan. 9th.
Down two regular starters, the Cougars were forced to mix it up.
Chris Gayles Jr., who had been averaging just 6.7 points per game, rose to the occasion with a career-best 21 points, shooting 3-for-4 from three-point range and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. In addition to his offensive contributions, Gayles, known for his vocal presence on defense, also grabbed three rebounds, two steals, and dished out five assists in a season-high 33 minutes.
How it Happened: Gayles set the tone early with a three-pointer to take a quick lead just 30 seconds into the game. The first half saw both teams trading leads and threes, but they went scoreless for nearly four minutes midway through.
The Sharks finally broke the standoff with a layup, but the Cougars responded with a 6-0 run, taking a 24-18 lead with five minutes left in the half. They held onto their advantage as Michael Saba knocked down a jumper in the paint to give Azusa Pacific a 30-27 lead at the break.
Despite getting off the first basket of the second half, the Cougars made a statement with an 11-2 run, fueled by back-to-back turnovers from the Sharks and a poster slam dunk-and-one from
Kaleb Taylor. With the score at 41-31, the Sharks fought back, cutting the lead to five points before Gayles Jr. snapped a three-minute scoring drought with a clutch three-pointer.
From there, the Cougars stretched their lead to as much as 13.
Charlie Gehler contributed the final five points for Azusa Pacific, and Gayles Jr. intercepted the Sharks' last pass of the game to seal the victory.
By the Numbers: In addition to Gayles Jr.,
Jordan Hansen, Gehler, and Saba all reached double figures in scoring, while eight different Cougars contributed offensively.
Kaleb Taylor also played a pivotal role in the victory, adding nine points, six rebounds, and three blocks. For the third time this season, the Cougars were perfect from the free throw line, going 19-for-19, with 13 of those makes coming in the second half. Azusa Pacific's suburb defense forced 22 turnovers by the Sharks, matching their season-high, and converted those turnovers into 20 points.
Up Next: After a week-long trip to Hawaii and a three-game homestand within five days, Azusa Pacific (10-9, 5-6) will enjoy a brief break before returning to action on Saturday against Jessup in Rocklin, Calif. The game, set for 2:00 p.m., will mark the second meeting between the two teams, with the Cougars having defeated the Warriors in the first game of the new year.
