Competing Until The End

Monday, March 16

Azusa, CA

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

26-7

Azusa Pacific

27-5

California Baptist

Azusa Pacific

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

3/16/2015 9:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

AZUSA, Calif. — For the fourth time this season, No. 21 California Baptist University and No. 14 Azusa Pacific faced off. This time, it was do-or-die as the two top PacWest schools battled it out for their first-ever NCAA Division II West Region title. Things didn't go in CBU's favor as the Cougars put together a tough second half to take the game 91-79 and move on to the Elite 8.

The Lancers end their successful season with a 26-7 overall record, while APU moves on with a 27-5 mark.

Gelaun Wheelwright scored a career-high 35 points (12-for-22, 6-for-12 3PT), outscoring the Cougars' Troy Leaf by 12 points, but it wasn't enough to overpower APU. Taj Spencer was the only other Lancer to score in double-digits, ending his junior season on 13 points (5-for-9).

The Lancers jumped out early to a 10-4 lead, but APU cut it to one at 10-9 with 13:13 left in the first. Spencer responded by driving to the basket, but the Cougars kept pressing and tied it up at 12-12 and took over an 18-14 lead.

Wheelwright ended the run and started one for the Lancers with a fade away jump shot. Back-to-back triples from Eividas Petrulis, including a wide open shot from the perimeter, put his team back in front 22-18.

The battle from beyond the arc continued as both teams sank threes, but neither team could hold more than a two-possession lead in the first half.

APU took a two-point cushion at halftime, 35-33 and took advantage of shots not falling for CBU to jump in front 44-33. Wheelwright cut the spree with two shots at the line and knocked in a three to put the Lancers within five at 46-41.

Finding themselves down by double-digits, 66-46, the Lancers needed to make stops on defense to get back in it. They still had 10 minutes to get there and tried to chip away at the margin.

After Leaf only hit one of three free throws, Ryan Berg went coast-to-coast to lay it in and draw a foul in the process. He completed the old-fashioned three-point play and CBU turned on the full-court press. On the other end Spencer took a charge to put the Lancers back on offense, but they still trailed 67-51 with less than eight minutes remaining.

Things didn't seem to be going the Lancers' way as the clock wound down, while APU couldn't miss a shot to hold on for a 91-79 win.