GSAC MEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Azusa Pacific Dominates in Victory Over Concordia

Near the end of Azusa Pacific’s 96-70 Golden State Athletic Conference rout of Concordia Saturday a group of Azusa fans started to chant.

“Over . . . rated, Over . . . rated,” was the simple refrain.

By that point, even Concordia Coach Greg Marshall couldn’t argue the point after watching his team, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA national poll, get pounded by unranked Azusa Pacific in the Eagles’ gym.

“I thought, ‘You’re right, you’re right,’ ” Marshall said.

Azusa Pacific (15-6, 4-0), the two-time defending conference champion, had struggled a bit in nonconference play and started the season as something of an underdog, but in front of 2,000 Saturday, the Cougars made Concordia (17-3, 2-2) look bad.

The Cougars put Concordia away on the offensive boards, pulling down 11 rebounds in the first half. That led directly to 19 points, thoroughly demoralizing Concordia, which trailed, 56-35, at halftime.

Although not a powerful inside team, Concordia started the week as the conference leader in rebounding margin.

“We’re a small team but we have been outrebounding other teams by being scrappy and playing really hard and tough,” Eagle guard Sam Sabbara said. “That wasn’t happening tonight and we got killed.”

Concordia, which lost its second consecutive game after winning a school-record 13 consecutive, was in the game early. Concordia tied the score, 19-19, with about 11 minutes left, but Azusa Pacific scored the next nine points to start a 15-2 run and that was just for starters. Guard Deric Daniels scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half and sparked a 13-0 run late in the half after the Eagles had cut the deficit to 11.

Azusa, which has had problems holding on to leads this season, made its first five shots and six of its first seven in the second half, to take a 69-37 lead.

Raymond Tutt, the conference’s leading scorer, scored his average 27 points, 18 in the second half. Eric Wattree scored 15 and Daniels, the conference’s assist leader, had 11 assists.

Pharoah Jones scored 13 points, Sabbara scored 11 and Tarik James scored 10 for the Eagles.

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In another Golden State Athletic Conference men’s basketball game:

Southern California College 71, Biola 70--Kevin Carlson’s two free throws with 1:55 remaining won it for host SCC. Carlson, a Katella graduate who played at Fullerton College, had 24 points and seven rebounds for the Vanguards (12-9, 2-2).

SCC rallied from a 44-35 halftime deficit by making five of 11 three-point shots in the second half. Chauncey Woolridge had 15 points.

Corey Reeder had 20 points for Biola (7-12, 1-3).