Phoenix, Ariz. - Arizona Christian University (3-13, 1-3 PCAC) outscored Multnomah University (9-10, 0-3 PCAC), 42-23, in the second half and crushed the Lions, 91-68, in Monday, January 9 Pacific Christian Athletics Conference (PCAC) action, in ACU's Fultz Memorial Gymnasium. While ACU shot 51.6 percent from the field in the second half (16-31), the Firestorm defense held Multnomah to a 19.4 percent shooting mark (6-31) and built its lead to 25 points. 

Coached by Rick Roth, ACU meets Portland Bible College (2-10) in a Pacific Christian Athletics Conference (PCAC) contest in Portland, Oregon, Thursday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m., Arizona time in the first game of a four-game, five-day road swing through the Pacific Northwest. ACU has 11 games remaining on its 2011-12 schedule, including six at home. 

Arizona Christian led by as many as seven points in the first half, 37-30, with 4:26 left before intermission, led 49-45 at intermission and began the second half with a 21-7 run that gave the Firestorm a comfortable 70-52 lead with 10:51 left in the game. ACU later scored 10 consecutive points in a span of just over two minutes and built its lead to 25 points, 82-57, with 6:39 showing on the clock. 

Senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) led all scorers with 25 points and four three-pointers, including 16 points and 3 three-pointers in the first 20- minute half. Sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.), ACU's leading scorer (15.8 ppg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg) this season, scored nine points with one three- pointer and seven rebounds in the first half and finished strongly with 22 points and 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, and added two assists and one steal. Freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.) gave the Firestorm 13 points, nine in the first half, one three-pointer, five rebounds and two steals off the bench. 

Senior guard Joshua Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) finished with nine points, two rebounds and three assists, and freshman starting forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) tallied six points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and two steals. Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.) added six points, two rebounds and two assists, and freshman guard Naheer Mirza (Phoenix, Ariz./Paradise Valley H.S.) contributed four points, three rebounds and one assist. Sophomore forward Ruben Rivas (Phoenix, Ariz./Verrado H.S.) added two points, three rebounds and three assists off the bench. 

Senior guard Gian Cook made his first eight shots and scored 18 points in the first eight minutes of the game and 21 in the first half, but scored no points in the second half. Sophomore forward David Walker totaled 19 points with two three-pointers and five of six free throws, and 12 rebounds, and freshman reserve guard Erik Mendoza contributed 10 points, one three-pointer, five rebounds and four steals off the Lions' bench. Senior guard Austin Hodges, the PCAC Player of the Year in 2009-10, was held to five points, all free throws, and six rebounds in his second game back after suffering a hand injury that kept him out of Multnomah's previous eight 

games.