MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson
(Glendora) – Azusa Pacific overcame a slow start, came out firing in the second and eventually cruised to a 74-54 win over Notre Dame de Namur Saturday at Felix Event Center.

Nothing seemed to go right for APU in the first half. The Cougars shot 8 for 31 from the field (25.8 %) and 4 for 22 from three point land (18.2 %) while hitting just 1 of 4 from the free throw line. Jake Spurgeon led the team at the break with just 8 points. Notre Dame de Namur wasn’t much better however and Azusa Pacific was fortunate to emerge with a 21-21 tie.

The Argonauts failed to take advantage of the Cougars shooting woes as they were just 8 for 25 from the floor and 3 for 12 from three point range.

APU circled the wagons at the break and came out on fire in the second half. Spurgeon knocked down a pair of threes, Selom Mawugbe scored inside and Ben Taufahema buried one from behind the arc to put the Cougs up 34-26 three and half minutes into the half. Over the next three minutes, Azusa Pacific went on a 10-2 run as Taufahema hit another three, Mawugbe threw down a slam and Ben Avera knocked down a deep three and just like that the Cougars were up by 14.

Later in the second half Mawugbe, doing work down in the paint, went on a tear scoring 9 straight points for the Cougars. Terrance Becvar nailed consecutive threes late in half and Taufahema swished one more for good measure to extend the lead to over 20.

Mawugbe, who had just 4 points in the first half finished with 19 to lead the team. He also pulled down 10 rebounds and had a pair of blocks including one that he sent the ball air mail into the stands. Spurgeon had 18 and 9 rebounds and Taufahema tossed in 12 hitting 4 of 9 from the land of plenty. Becvar had 9 going 3 for 3 from three point country and Ben Avera and Noah Bundrant rounded out the scoring with 8 and 6 respectively. The Cougars outrebounded the Argonauts 47-27.

For Notre Dame de Namur Trevor Thompson hit five three point shots and scored a game high 21 points. He was the only player in double figures for the Argonauts however as Carl Snyder and Ajay Singh added 7 and 6 respectively.

The Cougars have now won ten straight and improved to 15-3 overall and 10-2 in the PacWest Conference. Notre Dame de Namur fell to 2-18 and 1-13.