AZUSA, Calif. — In a hard-fought battle, Azusa Pacific fought back to get within three points late in the game but ultimately fell to the nationally ranked Sea Lions, 70-59.
After the Cougars defeated the Sea Lions in the PacWest Tournament Championship game last season to advance to the NCAA West Regionals, Point Loma got their revenge, securing victories in both meetings this year.
How it Happened: Coming into the night, Azusa Pacific knew they were in for a tough battle against the PacWest's current leader. The Cougars were able to keep the game within ten points for most of the first half, even taking a lead a few times over the nationally ranked team. However, a five-minute scoring drought near the end of the first half allowed Point Loma to build an 11-point lead.
In the second half,
Shant Chenorhavorian ignited a spark with a three-pointer, followed by a layup and the extra point from
Kaleb Taylor. However, a quick five-point run from Point Loma brought the Sea Lions' lead back to 42-32. The Cougars continued to battle, trading baskets with the Sea Lions, but struggled to get within ten points for most of the second half.
A quick 10-3 scoring run, sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from
Tobias Aisien and
Jordan Hansen, brought the Cougars to their closest deficit at 53-51 with 7:11 remaining. But despite the late surge, the Sea Lions outscored the Cougars 17-9 in the final minutes to seal the 70-59 victory.
By the Numbers: Both teams, which average over nine triples a game, struggled to shoot from beyond the arc. Point Loma finished 4-for-17 (23.5%) while Azusa Pacific shot 7-for-21 (33.3%). The last time these two faced off, the Sea Lions scored a season-high 14 triples against the Cougars. Additionally, no Cougar scored in double digits, as
Maui Sze,
Shant Chenorhavorian,
Michael Saba,
Charlie Gehler, and
Tobias Aisien all finished with eight points each.
Up Next: After a tough loss to Point Loma, Azusa Pacific (12-15, 7-12 in PacWest) finishes their season next week with two home games. The Cougars will face Biola in the annual Cornerstone Cup rivalry on Wednesday night, followed by a matchup with Academy of Art next Saturday. Biola, riding a nine-game win streak, is currently second in the conference, with Academy of Art just behind them in the current PacWest standings.
