Jake Spurgeon led the Cougars with 19 points. (Photo by Duane Barker).
(Glendora) – Jake Spurgeon scored 19 points and Terrance Becvar had a career high 16 to lead Azusa Pacific to a 98-69 rout of Academy of Art Thursday night at Felix Event Center on Senior night.
The Cougars, who had five players in double figures, won their 17th straight game and improved to 22-3 overall with the victory. They are now 17-2 in the PacWest Conference.
Spurgeon got things started with five points to get the Cougars off to an early 14-10 advantage.
Later in the first half, leading 20-18, APU went on an 10-3 run to go up 30-21. Selom Mawugbe threw down a jam off of an alley oop and Becvar hit a big three to force an Academy of Art time out with just under five minutes left in the first half.
APU outscored Academy of Art 13-8 down the first half stretch to take a 43-29 lead into halftime. Becvar hit two three pointers in the first half and was 5 of 9 from the field to lead the Cougars with 14 points. Spurgeon had nine and Noah Bundrant and Ben Avera each had six.
Stefon Milivojevic had nine for Academy of Art to lead the team at the break.
Leading by 11 early in the second half APU went on a quick 7-0 run capped by a Ken West layup to go up 60-42.
Selom Mawugbe slams one home. (Photo by Duane Barker).
Academy of Art tried to make a push and was down 69-56 with 8:20 left when the Cougars executed a rare seven-point possession. Mawugbe, who was hit with a technical foul a minute earlier, slammed one home and was also fouled on the play. The officials ruled that the foul was intentional giving APU two free throws and the ball as well. Mawugbe hit both free throws and Noah Bundrant knocked down a three to complete the seven-point possession. A 69-56 lead was suddenly 76-56 and that was all she wrote.
Cougar head coach Peter Bond emptied his bench a few minutes later and the victory celebration was on.
Mawugbe finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. Bundrant and Ken West each had 11 for the Cougars who shot 53 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the second half. APU also buried 47 percent from three point land in the second half and 39 for the game.
Spurgeon, Mawugbe, Bundrant and Ben Taufahema were all honored before the game on Senior night.
For Academy of Art Milivojec led the team with 17, Josh Hill had 15 and Joshua Bagley scored 14. AOA dropped to 10-16 overall and 8-11 in conference.
Azusa Pacific has three regular season games remaining – all on the road – before the PacWest Tournament gets underway.
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