By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Azusa Pacific used a 16-5 run over the last 5:47 to beat Concordia 64-56 Saturday night on Senior night at Felix Event Center.
After Kobe Sanders hit a three for Concordia the Cougars were down 51-48 with 5:47 left. A minute later Michael Saba hit a lay-up to put the Cougars up 52-51 and a possession later Allan McBride scored inside to make it 54-51.
A steal and a George Reidy basket with made it 58-53 and when Trevan Martin stole the ball and slammed it home at the other end with 1:00 left the Cougs were up 61-53 and that was all she wrote. APU went on to the eight-point victory.
All through the first half and up until that last five minute plus span the game was up in the air. In the first half the largest lead for either team was four points by Concordia.
The two teams were exchanging baskets early. Concordia led 17 -14 with less than eight minutes left in the first half.
The score remained close throughout the first half with neither team able to get separation. Concordia took a 27-24 lead into the half. Bryce Sloan had six points for APU and George Reidy had five.
Connor Gleason led Concordia with 11 in the half and Tim Adetukasi scored eight.
In the second half Jackson Harding hit a three and a bucket for a quick 5-0 Concordia run to make it 39-33 with 11:00 left. The Cougars fought back to tie it at 41 when Reidy scored inside. Sanders hit a three to put the Eagles up by three but Ken West nailed one from long distance to even it again at 46.
APU was then down by three before they finally pulled away with the big push down the stretch.
Reidy led the team with 15 and West had 12. Sloan was also in double figures with 10. The Cougars shot 43 percent for the game but just 28 percent from three-point land.
For the Eagles Adetukasi led the way with 16 points, Gleason had 13 and Harding 10. Concordia also struggled from behind the arc hitting just 23 percent from long range. The Eagles shot 33 percent from the field overall.
It was big win for Azusa Pacific as they improved to 10-16 overall but more importantly 9-10 in the PacWest Conference. The Cougars could punch their ticket to the Conference Tournament with a win next week over Fresno Pacific.
Concordia fell to 10-15 and 7-12 in conference.
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