Riverside, Calif. - La Sierra University (1-10; 1-0 PCAC; 1-0 A.I.I.) led 37-20 at halftime and out-rebounded Arizona Christian University (1-10; 0-2 PCAC; 1-1 A.I.I.), 42-23, enroute to a 75-54 victory over the Firestorm, in Saturday, Dec. 17 Pacific Christian Athletics Conference and Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference action in Riverside, California. 

ACU looks to end its nine-game losing streak when it competes at the California State University-San Marcos Classic at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, Calif., Dec. 19-20, taking on CSU-San Marcos (4-7), Monday at 8:30 p.m., and Pacific Union (0-8), Tuesday, at 7 p.m. 

In the first half, a taller La Sierra line-up shot .457 from field (16-35) but Arizona Christian made just 6 of 26 field goals (.231) and fell behind 37-20 by the halftime intermission. La Sierra started four players who stood 6-foot-2 or taller, while ACU started just two since its two tallest players, 6-foot-7 John Irvine and 6-foot-8 Daniel Cornelius, were missing from the line-up. 

La Sierra heated up to .517 in the second half (15-29), and ACU improved to .387 (12-31) but it was not enough to sustain a comeback effort. La Sierra out-scored ACU in the paint, 48-26, and its bench out-scored ACU's reserves, 20-13. ACU also contributed 21 turnovers which resulted in 15 gift points for the host Golden Eagles, while La Sierra survived 26 turnovers which ACU turned into just 12 points. 

Forward Joshua Zonker led the Golden Eagles with 15 points on 7 of 10 shots, 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, and forward Daveon Woods, La Sierra's leading scorer this season (15.5 ppg) added 13 pints, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Guard Miles Robbins contributed 11 points, one three-pointer, 2 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, and point guard Bennett Shaw added 8 points, one three-pointer, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. 6-foot-6 center Kenneth Penn scored 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked one shot and stole the ball four times. 

Sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.) led all scorers in the game with 18 points, including 5-for-6 free throws, one three-pointer, 3 rebounds and one steal, and freshman forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) scored 11 points and had 3 rebounds, one blocked shot and 2 steals. Senior guard Josh Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) added 7 points and 2 assists, and sophomore guard Jordan Augustine (West Jordan, Utah/Waterford H.S.) gathered six rebounds, blocked a shot and stole the ball from La Sierra twice.