By Tim Peterson
(Glendora) – Azusa Pacific went on a 15-0 first half run to erase a seven-point deficit and never looked back in a 76-51 win over Dominican Friday night at Felix Event Center.
Dominican was up 22-15 with 7:29 left in the first half when Azusa Pacific went to work. The Cougars went on that game turning 15-0 run as Ben Avera and Terrance Becvar hit back-to-back threes for a 30-22 lead.
The Cougars never trailed again.
Avera hit another three later in the half to put APU up by 11 at 35-24. A Ken West tip-in increased the advantage to 13. By the time Justin Hemsley hit a three as the second half wound down the Cougars were up 15. Azusa Pacific led 40-26 at the break.
APU outscored Dominican 30-4 over the last 7:29 of the half. The lead was only 14, certainly within striking distance in any basketball game, but in this one everybody in the building knew it was all but over.
For the Cougars West had 13 and Hemsley 10 in the first half. Becvar had 7 and Avera with the two from downtown scored 6.
For the Penguins Zamaria Odom led the team with 10 first half points and Justin Brown had 6.
Nate Kleppe and Hayden Gary hit consecutive threes to spark a 9-2 run to open the second half to make it 49-28.
The Cougars continued to coast in the second half. A steal and a slam by Hayden Gray made it 60-38 with 11:44 left.
APU was in Cougar cruise control the rest of the way. The lead ballooned to as much as 27 before the Cougars settled for the 25-point win.
West led all scorers for Azusa Pacific with 19 points including four threes and Hemsley had 18. Becvar was also in double figures with 12 and Gray and Avera each finished with 9. The Cougars shot 45 percent from the field for the game
For Dominican Odom led the way with 12 and Brown tossed in 10. No other Penguin player was in double figures.
APU out rebounded Dominican 37-23 on the night.
Azusa Pacific improved to 14-6 overall and 11-2 in the Pacwest Conference. Dominican fell to 7-15 and 3-11.
Good to see APU back at the top of the league.