By Tim Peterson
(Glendora) – Ken West scored 18 points and Hayden Gray added 16 to lead Azusa Pacific to a 75-70 win over Academy of Art Saturday at Felix Event Center in PacWest Conference action.
The Cougars led by as many as 17 late in the second half before withstanding an Academy of Art run in which the lead was cut to three with 11 seconds left. The Cougars ultimately survived.
Academy of Art jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening moments but the Cougars battled back to take a 34-26 lead at the half. West had 10 in the first half including three three pointers and Gray had seven to pace the attack.
Klay Brown had 8 points for Academy of Art in the first half.
In the second half the Cougars went on a 10-0 run as West scored five straight points and Nate Kleppe had a bucket inside and a foul for a three-point play the old fashion way to give APU a 50-35 lead with 12:28 left.
The Cougars appeared to be in control still leading 65-48 when Kleppe buried three free throws with just over five minutes remaining.
Academy of Art had one last push left going on a 13-1 run as Joshua Bagley and Brown both hit threes and the Urban Knights sliced the Cougars advantage to 73-70 with 11 seconds left.
Terrance Becvar was able to knock down two free throws to increase the lead to five and close it out for APU.
Becvar joined West and Gray in double figures for Azusa Pacific with 12 and Kleppe finished with 11. For Academy of Art Bagley and Brown each had 15 and Latrell Williams scored 12.
The Cougars outrebounded the Urban Knights 38-34 and outshot them 46 percent to 40 percent from the field.
APU improved to 7-2 in the PacWest Conference and 10-6 overall. Academy of Art fell to 10 -10 and 6-6
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