By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Trevan Martin hit three free throws over the last 38 seconds to secure a 59-55 win over Fresno Pacific Saturday at Felix Event Center.
The Cougars trailed througout the contest before finally taking a two-point lead on a Charlie Gehler driving layup with 7:35 left in the game. It was back and forth the rest of the way before Azusa Pacific ultimately emerged with the victory.
Azusa Pacific was down 13-4 early but rallied to get within three. Fresno Pacific, leading by four, went on a 7-0 run to go up 26-15 with 5:35 left in the first half. The Sunbirds were still up by eight as the first half came to a close. Seth Brown had nine for Fresno Pacific to lead the way while Isaac Peralta and Ryan Abbott each scored six.
For the Cougars Logan Stempniak led the team with seven and Martin had four. Azusa Pacific was 1 for 15 from three-point land in the first half and shot 30 percent from the field overall. Fresno Pacific wasn’t much better at 36 percent.
After the slow start the Cougars began to roll in the second half. Charlie Gehler hit a three, Martin scored inside and then hit a reverse layup to cap a 10-0 Azusa Pacific run to tie it at 42 with 11:29 left.
Gehler’s layup put the Cougars up 49-47 with 7:35 left. It was 51-51 after a Kaleb Taylor basket inside with 4:10 left.
The Cougs were up one when Martin hit a pair from the charity stripe to make it 58-55. After APU forced a turnover Martin sank one more to seal it.
The Sunbirds were led in the scoring column by Peralta who had 14 and Seth Brown who finished with 12. Abbott added nine. Fresno State ended up shooting 35 percent and from the field and just 54 from the free throw line.
For Azusa Pacific Martin with 16 points and Gehler, 15, were the only players in double figures. The Cougars shot 42 percent from the field but just 22 from beyond the arc at 6 for 27. Gehler hit three of those treys and Deen Abdur-Rahmann buried two to finish with six points. APU outrebounded Fresno 40-28.
The Cougars improved to 8-6 with the victory and 3-3 in the PacWest Conference while Fresno Pacific dropped to 4-11 and 1-6.
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