MidValleySports.Com

Robert Sandoval’s 18 points and seven assists help push the Cougars past Cal Baptist.

(Glendora) – Troy Leaf and Robert Sandoval combined for 39 points and Sharif Watson added 13 points and six rebounds as Azusa Pacific ended Cal Baptist’s 16 game winning streak with a 78-65 win Friday night at the Felix Event Center.

Cal Baptist was 16-0 (10-0 in the Pacific West conference) coming in but that didn’t deter the Cougars from running out to a 16 point lead at the half and then maintaining it until the end. Cal Baptist got as close as six in the second half but the Cougars withstood the run making big plays down the stretch.

***Leaf was five for five from three point land and finished with 21 points overall to lead all scorers. Leaf is the leading scorer in the conference.

***APU was 10 of 16 overall from beyond the arc compared to 6 of 26 for Cal Baptist.

***Azusa Pacific out rebounded the Lancers 38-36. Bertram Hall led the Cougars with 11.

***APU’s biggest lead was 17 early in the second half. Cal Baptist cut it to 50-44 mid way through the half but that was as close as the Lancers got.

***Kevin Stafford and Leaf hit consecutive threes with just over four minutes left to increase the APU lead to 14. 

***The Cougars shot 52% for the game while Cal Baptist was 35% from the field.

***The game was played before a packed house of 2,819 fans.

***Anthony Cosentino led Cal Baptist with 17 points and Ryan Berg scored 15.

***Watson’s jam late in the game nearly brought down the house.

***APU improved to 10-6 overall and 6-4 in the conference while the Baptists fell to 16-1 and 10-1.

***the Cougars will now fly to Hawaii before returning home February 13.