Connor Peterson scored 16 for APU but the Cougars fell short.
By Tim Peterson
(Glendora) – Azusa Pacific rallied from 12 points down to get within two with under two minutes left but Cal Baptist held on for an 80-77 win before a packed house at Felix Event Center Thursday night.
APU jumped out to a 9-2 lead but Cal Baptist got even at 13 and then outscored the Cougars 23-11 at the end of the first half to go up 40-29 at the break. Kalidou Diouf led Cal Baptist with 15 points down on the block in the first half while Jason Todd had eight and Dejon Davis added six.
For APU, Joey Schreiber, Petar Kutlesic and Corey Langerveld all scored six points in the first half.
Cal Baptist looked like it was cruising in the second half opening up a 12 point lead. But the Cougars went on a 10-0 run with a jumper by Connor Peterson cutting the lead to 67-65 with 4:13 left.
Joey Schreiber added 15
However Jordan Heading knocked down a three for the Lancers to make it 70-65. With 1:53 left Justin Byrd netted one from long distance to make it 72-70 but again CBU had an answer. Michael Smith drove the lane, scored and was fouled for a five point lead.
Smith then made four free throws down the stretch to put the game away. Smith led all scorers with 23 points going six for six from the line and 8 of 18 from the field. Diouf finished with 19 and Heading had 13. For the Cougars Peterson and Langerveld each had 16 while Schreiber had 15. Kutlesic and Austin Dyer both had eight points.
Cal Baptist continued its remarkable run in the 2016-’17 campaign improving to 14-1. The Cougs fell to 8-10. Next up for APU is a home game Monday night against Point Loma.
Leave a Reply