Azusa Pacific Claws Past Toros in Cougar Classic

Box Score

AZUSA -- Senior sharpshooter Pierson Williams scored 15 points to lead a quartet of Toros in double figures, but host Azusa Pacific boasted five Cougars who scored at least 10 points while shooting 42.1% from the field as a team en route to a convincing 92-73 win.

With the loss, CSUDH falls to 2-2 on the year.

The Toros started strong with the game's first seven points in the first 2:03, with a Williams three and two accounting for five of the points.

A Justin Standley triple four minutes later increased CSUDH's lead to 15-7, only to have the Cougars make a run of their own with eight straight points.

The teams tied three more times until APU took control of the game with a 10-2 run before entering the locker room up 37-31.

APU increased the gap to open the second half, stretching its lead to 13 four minutes into the period, and to 20 five minutes later.

Three-consecutive Toro 3-pointers, including two by jason Payne, cut 9 points off their deficit to make it 60-49, with a trey by Everett Turner and free throw by Chris Carvin bringing CSUDH to within 69-62.

The Cougars answered, however, securing their largest lead of the game at 88-65 at the 2:38 mark to all but put the game away in the eventual 19-pont win.

Moriba DeFreitas enjoyed a monster game of 13 board and 12 points, with Givon Crump adding 11 and Standley 10 in the loss.

The Toros shot 44.1% from the field, but it paled compared to APU's 54.9% accuracy.

A 9-for-20 night from the charity stripe hurt the Toro cause, although Crump drained all six of his attempts.

CSUDH will conclude the Cougar Classic tomorrow with a 5:30 pm first tip against Western Oregon.

Free throws hurt the Toros

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