Phoenix, Ariz. - Arizona Christian University (4-13, 3-2 A.I.I., 2-3 PCAC) scored its last 14 points at the free throw line and held off Walla Walla University (4-19, 0-2 A.I.I., 3-2 PCAC) to claim a 79-77 victory in Thursday, Jan. 19 Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) and Pacific Christian Athletics Conference (PCAC) action in WEC Gym in snowy and icy College Place, Washington. 

Walla Walla outscored the Firestorm, 22-12, over the last 3:53 of the contest and nearly erased a 12-point ACU lead. WWU made its last 15 free throw attempts in the last 4:19 of the game. ACU's last field goal of the game, scored by junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.), came with 4:08 left to play and ACU ahead 65-55. From that point, ACU attempted just two field goals, made 14 of 19 free throws and committed three turnovers. Fortunately, the Firestorm defense held the Wolves to a 27.8 percent shooting mark (10-36) in the second half after Walla Walla had shot 56.0 percent from the field (14-25) in the first half. 

Coached by Rick Roth, ACU hopes to extend its two-game winning streak with a PCAC game at Portland Bible College (2-15, 0-6 PCAC), Friday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m., Arizona time, and New Hope Christian College (5-17, 2-3 PCAC) in Eugene, Oregon, Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. Arizona time, in the second and third games of a four-game, five-day road swing through the cold and snowy Pacific Northwest. 

Arizona Christian led by as many as 11 points in the first half, 24-13, with 12:13 left before intermission, but the Wolves cut the lead to 26-25 with a 12-2 run over the next 4:24. ACU rebuilt the lead to 36-28 with 4:43 left on a three-pointer by junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.) at the end of a 10-3 streak. Again Walla Walla came back and scored 10 consecutive points and led 38-36 with 1:57 remaining. The teams were tied at 38-38 at halftime. Koch scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the first half. 

Walla Walla went ahead, 44-40, at the 18:15 mark of the second half, but six consecutive points by ACU put the Firestorm up, 46-44, with 14:45 left. The lead exchanged hands five times and the score was tied once in the next five minutes until ACU gained a measure of control and built its lead to 12 points, 67-55, with 3:59 left in the game. 

Koch finished with a season-high 28 points, hitting eight of 14 shots, three of his four three- pointers and nine of his 13 free throws. Sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.), ACU's leading scorer (15.4 ppg) and rebounder (5.8 rpg) this season, totaled 11 points, including five of six free throws in the final 5:07 of the game, and also grabbed nine rebounds, passed off three assists and stole the ball from Walla Walla twice. Freshman starting forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) added nine points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and a steal. 

Senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) added six points, and junior reserve guard Jordan Augustine (West Jordan, Utah/Waterford H.S.) contributed five points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Junior forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.) gave the Firestorm four points, four rebounds, one blocked shots and one steal, and sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S.) added six points after missing the previous seven games. 

Three Wolves players scored 11 or more points, led by freshman forward Josh Hough with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two steals and senior guard Mark Moore with 16 points, two three- pointers and six rebounds. Junior center Andrew Bailey had nine points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Bryce Doherty totaled 11 points, two rebounds, five assists and three steals. Senior guard Taylor Lewis added nine points, two three-pointers and three rebounds.