Behind Enemy Lines

Thursday, January 12

Azusa, Calif.

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

14-1, 6-1

Azusa Pacific

8-10, 3-5

California Baptist

Azusa Pacific

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

1/12/2017 9:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

AZUSA, Calif. — When it comes to the Felix Event Center, Azusa Pacific can bring a rowdy environment. Despite competing in enemy territory, No. 5-ranked California Baptist University came away victorious with an 80-77 dogfight over the Cougars.

The Lancers improve to 14-1 on the year, 6-1 in the PacWest, and continue their unbeaten streak to six-straight games. APU drops to 8-10 overall, 3-5 in conference with its third-straight loss.

Three Lancers finished the night in double-figures, led by Michael Smith with 23 points (8-for-18). Kalidou Diouf followed with 19 points (7-for-8) and Jordan Heading chipped in 13 points (5-for-13).

Smith was one board short of a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds on the night. Diouf contributed another eight and Casey Norris snagged five missed shots off the glass.

Neither team could score for the first two minutes, but it soon opened up a back-and-forth battle between the two teams to see who would put a run together first to take the first significant lead of the night.

APU jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but it didn't last long. Diouf banked in a shot off the backboard and drew a foul to round it up to three. Smith followed with a tough-angled shot to put the Lancers within two and closed the gap with another two-point bucket.

It was back-and-forth once again. Any time the Cougars got ahead, the Lancers were right back on them, waiting to make their move.

Back-to-back threes created some separation with less than five minutes before halftime as Marquise Mosley and Jason Todd each knocked down triples. It gave CBU an eight-point lead, 31-23, which turned into an 11-point lead at halftime after Todd drained another three from the corner.

APU came out firing to open the second and pulled within six, 42-36, two minutes into the period. The Lancers cut the run and Heading drained a corner three to give CBU back its double-digit lead, 47-36.

The Cougars tried to chip away at the margin, but CBU wouldn't let its rival gain too much momentum.

APU pulled within six, 67-61, to give the Lancers a six-point lead heading down the stretch. The Cougars were feeling juiced, however, and cut the lead to just two points, 67-65.

Heading responded with a big three from the corner pocket, putting the Lancers back up by two possessions with exactly four minutes left on the clock.

It was a dogfight in the final ticks of the game as CBU was determined to walk out of the Felix Event Center with the win.

Smith got a big stop on defense and Casey Norris took care of business on the other end of the court to keep the Cougars at bay.

APU wouldn't go away quietly, however, as it hit a three at the two-minute mark to keep the game close, 72-70.

With under a minute to go, APU attempted a three to tie but it was off the rim and Smith scooped up the board. The Cougars had no choice but to foul to try to get the ball back, but Smith finished four chances at the charity stripe to give the Lancers some wiggle room, 79-72.

APU followed with a three and called a timeout right after, hoping to put together a dramatic 14.2 seconds to take the game.

It wasn't going to happen as CBU closed out the 80-77 victory to sweep the regular-season series.

The Lancers host Concordia on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., looking to continue momentum against another tough opponent.