Oceanside, Calif. - Arizona Christian University (2-10; 2-1 A.I.I.) wiped out a 23-point deficit (52-29) gradually over the last 18 minutes of the second half and tied the score at 80-80 with two free throws by senior guard Josh Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) with 23 seconds left, and then outscored California State University-San Marcos (5-7, 0-1 A.I.I.), 14-9, in the five-minute overtime period and prevailed 94-89 in Monday, Dec. 19 collegiate men's basketball action in the CSU-San Marcos Holiday Classic at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, Calif. The game also counted as an Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference contest. 

ACU takes on Pacific Union College (1-9) in the California State University-San Marcos Holiday Classic at Mira Costa College, Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m., Arizona time. 

After scoring no points in the first half, senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) scored 11 points with 3 three-pointers in the second half and eight points with two three-pointers in the overtime and finished with a season-high 19 points, five three- pointers, two assists and one steal. Friend made two three-pointers in the first 1:54 of the overtime as ACU took an eight-point lead, 88-80, with 3:06 left to play. 

Sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.) totaled 22 points, 15 in the second half, with 3 three-pointers and made seven of his eight free throws, grabbed four rebounds and had 3 assists and two steals. Suniga's three-pointer with 1:12 left in the second half slice CSUSM's lead to 78-76, and after the Cougars scored with 51 seconds left, freshman forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) scored a lay-up with 39 seconds left and kept ACU down by just two, 80-78. Cole totaled 11 points, eight in the second half, and made five of six free throws, passed 5 assists and stole the ball three times. Cole forced overtime when he made the game-tying free throws with 23 seconds left for an 80-80 score. CSUSM missed a three-pointer in the final second. 

Culbert finished with 15 points, seven in the second half and two in overtime, and pulled down eight rebounds, and freshman reserve guard Judah St. Amand (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy canned 3 three-pointers for nine points. Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.) scored seven points, including an important basket early in the overtime that gave ACU a five-point lead, 85-80. Reserves Derek James (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma H.S.) and Ruben Rivas (Phoenix, Ariz./Verrado H.S.) added 6 points and 4 points respectively. 

ACU shot just 38.5 percent from the field (10-26) with two three-pointers in the first half while CSU-San Marcos shot 62.1 percent (18-29) with four three-pointers, and put the Firestorm down, 43-27, by intermission. The host Cougars went up 52-29 with 17:53 left in regulation time. From that point, ACU's pressing defensive style and hot ACU shooting helped Coach Rick Roth's Firestorm to chip away at the lead and outscore the Cougars, 51-28, and come back to tie the game at 80-80 with 23 seconds remaining. CSUSM still led by 19 points, 70-51, with 9:35 left to play and by 11 points, 70-59, with 6:51 remaining in the second half. 

ACU made 18 of its 31 shots (.581), seven three-pointers and 10 of its 12 free throws in the second half, and turned 10 CSU-San Marcos second-half turnovers into 13 gift points, including 3 three-pointers. CSU shot 65.2 percent in the second half (15-23) but made just one three- pointer and six of its 12 free throws while ACU came all the way back. 

While the Cougars totaled 23 turnovers in the game, ACU committed 15, but just four miscues in the second half, leading to five CSUSM points.