By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Ken West scored a game high 32 points as Azusa Pacific built a big halftime lead and cruised the rest of the way in a 96-69 rout of Chaminade Saturday at Felix Event Center.
Although Chaminade was hot early the Cougars responded in a big way to go up by 21 at the half and never looked back.
It was actually Chaminade who came out of the gate firing racing out to a 13-4 lead as Jamir Thomas knocked down three three-pointers. But that was the last legitimate run the Silverswords had.
Azusa Pacific answered with a 14-3 run as Ethan Speaker hit a big three and the game was tied at 19.
The Cougars then went on a 10-0 run as West buried consecutive treys from way downtown and Bryce Sloan hit a runner in the lane for a 29-19 APU lead with 7:55 left in the first half.
Azusa Pacific then proceeded to break it wide open. George Reidy hit back-to-back threes and West converted a three-point play. Nate Kleppe hit one from beyond the arc as well and the Cougars were suddenly up by 20, 41-21, with just under five minutes left in the half.
Another West trey made it 48-26 with 1:58 left.
West ended up with 25 points in the first half including five three pointers as the Cougars took a 53-32 lead into the half.
Azusa Pacific picked up where it left off in the second half. Sloan hit a three to put the Cougars up by 30, 70-40, with 13:11 left and the Cougars were officially in cruise control.
Chaminade was never able to dig its way out of the hole.
West was 10 of 15 from the floor including 6 of 10 from the land of plenty for his 32. He rounded out his stat line by shooting 6 of 8 from the free throw line and grabbing six boards.
Reidy had a nice evening hitting 6 of 14 from the field overall including 3 of 7 from long range and finished with 17 points. The Cougars had four players in double figures as Speaker had 15 and Sloan added 12. Azusa Pacific also outrebounded Chaminade 37-34.
The Cougars shot 52 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three-point land.
For Chaminade Isaac Amaral-Artharee took scoring honors with 17 points. Wyatt Lowell scored 14, Thomas 13 and Kelton Samore had 10. The Silverswords shot 39 percent from the field.
Azusa Pacific, after a slow start, improved to 4-9 on the season and 3-3 in the Pac West Conference. Chaminade fell to 6-11 overall and 2-7 in conference.
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