Phoenix, Ariz. - Arizona Christian University (9-15, 7-3 PCAC) erased an eight-point deficit and led 34-29 at halftime and then outscored New Hope Christian College (8-21, 5-7 PCAC) from Eugene, Oregon, 52-36, in the second half of its 86-65 Pacific Christian Athletics Conference victory in Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the ACU campus, Thursday, Feb. 9. ACU had defeated NHCC, 70-63, in Eugene, Jan. 21.
Five Firestorm players scored in double figures, including two off the bench as ACU completed the season sweep over NHCC, which ranked number nine in this week's National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) Division II national coaches poll after winning three of its last four games. ACU has won seven of its last nine games and its last seven PCAC games.
ACU, coached by Rick Roth, returns to action with a home Pacific Christian Athletics Conference (PCAC) contest against Walla Walla University (5-22, 4-4 PCAC) from Walla Walla, Washington, Friday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m., in Fultz Memorial Gym. ACU edged Walla Walla, 79-77, on a snowy, icy Jan. 19 evening in Walla Walla, in the first meeting between the teams this season. ACU also plays at Chapman University (NCAA III) in Orange, California, Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m., Arizona time.
New Hope took its biggest lead of the game, 18-10, with 12:47 left in the first half, but ACU scored 10 consecutive points and outscored the Deacons, 24-11, the rest of the half and led 34-29 at halftime. The Firestorm gradually stretched its lead in the second half and led by 10 points for the first time, 45-35, with 16:41 left in the game, grabbed its first 20-point lead, 71-51, with 6:04 left, and took its widest advantage of the contest, 80-56, with 3:10 remaining in the game. ACU made five three-point plays, five three-point field goals in eight attempts and shot 55.6 percent from the field (20-36) in the second half.
Freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.) came off the bench to lead ACU with 18 points, 10 in the second half, including a thunderous slam dunk and the
ensuing free throw with 4:25 left in the game that gave ACU a 76-55 lead, a play that resulted also in New Hope's 6-foot-10 center Forest Stolk from nearby Chandler, Arizona, fouling out of the game with just eight points and four rebounds, well below his season averages of 14.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Avent also gathered six rebounds and blocked two shots. Also off the bench, sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S.) contributed 15 points, hitting 6-of-7 shots and his only three-pointer, five rebounds and five assists.
ACU's leading scorer and rebounder (14.9 ppg and 5.5 rpg), sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.) finished with 12 points, eight in the second half, a team- best nine rebounds and three assists, and junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Wells H.S.) scored 11 points, seven in the second half, and had three rebounds and two steals. Senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy), ACU's career three- point field goal leader with 207, totaled 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 3 three-pointers in four attempts, and three assists. Freshman forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) added six points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot, and senior co- captain Joshua Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) scored just two points but added four rebounds, five assists and a steal and ranks seventh in ACU history with 304 career assists in 109 games in four seasons.
Freshman forward Harley Turner led New Hope Christian with 29 points, 21 in the second half, and made 12-of-17 shots and 3 three-pointers and also had five rebounds and three assists. Freshman forward Anthony Jannelli scored 14 points with four three-pointers, all in the first half, and had five rebounds and two assists, and junior guard Quincy Alexander scored 11 points with three assists and two steals. Stolk totaled eight points, four rebounds and three blocked shots, but spent most of the game in foul trouble.
ACU shot 51.6 percent from the field (33-64) for the game, 42.9 percent from three-point range (6-14) and 87.5 percent from the free throw line (14-16). The Firestorm out-rebounded New Hope by a comfortable 40-28 margin, committed just 11 turnovers and just five miscues in the first half, blocked three shots and stole the ball from NHCC five times. New Hope Christian shot 44.6 percent from the field (25-56), 32.0 percent from three-point range (8-25) and 58.3 percent from the free throw line (7-12), committed 17 turnovers, 12 of them coming in the second half, blocked three shots, and stole the ball from ACU four times.
