MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Azusa) – EJ Bryson hit a fall away jumper with .04 seconds remaining to lift Azusa Pacific to a 75-73 win over Point Loma Saturday at the Felix Event Center. The Cougars rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit and then outscored Point Loma 45-28 in the second half to pull out the improbable victory.

It was all Sea Lions in the first half. Point Loma jumped out to a 15-point lead at the break as Andrew Nagy led the way with 16 points.

Shad Thomas hit a three for Azusa Pacific to cut the Sea Lions lead to 27-21. But Point Loma went on a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to open up the lead to 14 with over three minutes left in the first half. Nagy knocked down a three and Judson Loe scored underneath to highlight the run. Andrew Hommes also hit a bucket.

Shant Chenorhavorian nailed a three pointer late in the first half to get the Cougars within 11 but they were still down 15 as the first half buzzer sounded. Chenorhavorian had seven in the first half and DJ Sanders scored six.

The Sea Lions took the 45-30 lead into the half.

The Cougars began to peck away at the lead in the second half. Kaleb Taylor scored inside and Chenorhavorian hit a three as APU cut the lead to 55-48 with 11:50 left.

With 8:16 left Caleb Oden had a three-point play the old-fashioned way and with just over seven minutes left Bryson also came up with a basket and one. But the Cougars still found themselves down by seven.

A Bryson lay-up cut the lead to two, 64-62, with 5:13 left. And when Thomas hit another three less than two minutes later the Cougars were up 69-68 with 3:23 left.

After a couple of Point Loma free throws Taylor scored in the paint to put the Cougars up again 71-70. James Nobles hit a pair of free throws for Point Loma but Bryson put Azusa Pacific up 73-72 with a nice move inside with 37 seconds left.

Hommes was fouled with 23 seconds left but after making the first free throw he missed the second and the score remained tied at 73.

The Cougars took over, worked the ball into the front court and called timeout with 12 seconds left. Bryson then maneuvered into the lane and nailed the fall away with .04 seconds left.

After a long heave by Point Loma into the front court the ball was knocked into the air and then tipped into the basket. However upon further review it was ruled no basket as it came after the buzzer sounded and the Cougars escaped with the win.

For Azusa Pacific Bryson, of course, led the way with 17 points. Chenorhavorian had 15 including three from beyond the arc and Thomas scored 11. Taylor did some solid work inside with 10 points and also had four blocked shots. Sanders added nine.

Point Loma’s Nagy led all scorers with 24 and Nobles scored 10. The Cougars outrebounded the Sea Lions 37-30.

With the victory Azusa Pacific improved to 2-6 and 1-3 in the PacWest Conference while Point Loma fell to 8-3 and 3-2.

PL 45 28 73

AP 30 45 75