MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – Azusa Pacific’s post season run ended with a 74-67 loss to Cal State San Bernardino in the NCAA Division II West Regional Finals Monday night at Cal State LA.

The Cougars fell behind by as many as 16 in the first half before making a run to cut it to two late in the second half but fell short as Cal State San Bernardino was able to hold them off.

Trailing 60-46 Azusa Pacific went on an 11-0 run to slice the lead to 60-57. The Cougars got within two at 63-61 before the Coyotes went on a 7-0 run down the stretch, including a three-point dagger by Sedrick Altman, to put the game away.

In the first half Cal State San Bernardino behind the hot shooting of Chris Mitchell opened up a 37-21 lead with 3:21 left. Mitchell had 11 points in the first half for the Coyotes including three from long distance. APU went on a quick 7-0 run of its own to get back within nine and still trailed by nine, 39-30 at the half.

George Reidy hit a big three for APU in the seven-point run and had 11 in the first half. Ethan Speaker had six in the half. For Cal State San Bernardino Jalen Flanagan had 10 first half points and Altman had seven.

Bryce Sloan heated up in the second half scoring eight points and center Kaleb Taylor also got into the act with a couple of slam dunks to keep the Cougars in the hunt. Reidy also had seven second half points as did Speaker.

But in the end Azusa Pacific just didn’t have enough. It was a whole lot of Mitchell who finished with a game high 25 points. Altman had 15 and Evan Guillory and Flanagan added ten.

For the Cougars Reidy led the team with 18, Speaker and West each had 13 and Sloan scored 11. APU was outrebounded by the Coyotes 31-28. The Cougars shot 46 percent from the field while the Yotes shot 50 percent.

Azusa Pacific ends the season with an overall record of 16-17 but has a PacWest Tournament Championship to boast about, which was the first in school history. The Cougars had won seven straight before the loss in the West Regional Finals.

Meanwhile the Coyotes advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Tournament.