Off By One

Saturday, December 5

Azusa, Calif.

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

9-2, 1-1PacWest

Azusa Pacific

6-2, 1-1PacWest

California Baptist

Azusa Pacific

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

12/5/2015 9:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

AZUSA, Calif. — When it comes to the Felix Event Center, Azusa Pacific has been able to defend its court well. No. 10-ranked California Baptist University looked to put an end to that streak Saturday night, but missed it by one point, falling 73-72 to the Cougars.

The Lancers drop to 9-2 overall, 1-1 in PacWest play, while APU — which is receiving votes in the latest NCAA Division II poll — improves to 6-2 on the year and 1-1 in conference.

Michael Smith led all scorers with 24 points (9-for-17). Jordan Giusti followed with 12 points (3-for-6), while Taj Spencer chipped in 11 points (5-for-12) and Trevone Williams added 10 points (3-for-5).

Giusti put the Lancers on the board first, draining an uncontested three, but APU had a response as the two teams exchanged points in the opening minutes.

CBU took its first major lead of the night after Spencer drove to the basket and Wheelwright hit a three-pointer to put his team in front 17-12.

The Cougars clawed their way back in front, 29-20, before Spencer muscled his way to the basket to cut the score to seven, 29-22.

APU went on a run to take a double-digit lead, 36-26, but Giusti drove to the basket and then stole the ball away on the next play. The senior guard put Trevone Williams in on the fast break, where he laid it in with ease to make it a six-point game at halftime.

The Lancers came out of the break looking to key in on defense and force the Cougars to take tougher shots.

CBU got what it was looking for as Williams found nothing-but-net from the perimeter, followed by a stop on defense to put the Lancers back on the prowl. Giusti put the score line within two off a three-pointer from the corner and Smith tied it up at 42-42 four minutes into the second frame.

Feeling energized, a battle ensued the next 10 minutes as both teams took leads and surrendered them.

Down 67-61 heading down the stretch, the Lancers dug deep the remaining five minutes, but shots didn't seem to fall until Spencer grabbed a defensive board and found Smith on the fast break to cut it to 71-66 with two minutes left.

Wheelwright followed by draining a three from the right side, forcing APU to call a timeout as the Lancers had pulled within one possession, 71-69.

APU hit two free throws to try to keep the Lancers at bay, but Smith drew a foul as he drove to the basket. He completed the three-point play, putting CBU within one, 73-72 with a little less than a minute remaining.

The Lancers got a stop on defense and looked like they'd get a layup as Giusti tried to lay in a basket just before time expired, but CBU didn't get more time on the clock to drop the game 73-72.

The Lancers return home to close out the remainder of the calendar year, hosting non-conference opponent Bethesda on Dec. 15th at 7:00 p.m. CBU then tips off one last time in 2015 in Van Dyne against PacWest foe Point Loma at 7:00 p.m.