Portland, Ore. - Portland, Ore. - Arizona Christian University (5-13, 3-3 PCAC) come back from four points behind in the second half and scored a 77-72 Pacific Christian Athletics Conference victory at Portland Bible College (2-16, 0-7 PCAC), Friday, Jan. 20, in Portland, Oregon. ACU has won three consecutive games, all against PCAC opponents. 

Coached by Rick Roth, ACU hopes to extend its three-game winning streak with a PCAC game at New Hope Christian College (5-17, 2-3 PCAC) in Eugene, Oregon, Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. Arizona time, the third game of a four-game, five-day road swing through the cold and snowy Pacific Northwest. 

The lead exchanged hands 12 times during Friday's game at PBC, and the score was tied nine times. ACU led by as many as seven points, 29-22, in the first half and led 37-36 at halftime. Portland Bible took a 44-40 lead in the second half, its biggest lead of the game. PBC shot 56 percent from the field (14-25) in the first half, but ACU's defense tightened in the second half, especially in the final ten minutes, and the Wildcats' shooting fell off to just 40 percent in the second half (12-30). Meanwhile, ACU shot 44.8 percent in the first half (13-29) and 48.3 percent in the second half (14-29) for a final 46.6 percent shooting percentage (27-58) and made five of 18 from three-point range. 

Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.), who scored 28 points at Walla Walla on Thursday night, led ACU again with 14 points and two three-pointers. 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 13 points and five rebounds, two assists and one steal, and senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) added 11 points, two three-pointers and four assists. Freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.) contributed 10 points and six rebounds, and sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S.) added eight points, five rebounds and two steals. 

Sophomore guard Derek James (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma H.S.) contributed eight points and drew praise from Coach Roth along with freshman guard Naheer Mirza (Phoenix, Ariz./Paradise Valley High School) for their defensive efforts in the latter stage of the contest that slowed down PBC's outside shooting and caused several turnovers leading to ACU offensive opportunities. 

PBC guard Doug Noteboom led the Wildcats with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal, and guard Tim Mahan added 14 points, 3 three-pointers, four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. Guard Theo Overstreet tallied 11 points, one three-pointer and three rebounds, and guard Juston Coleman contributed 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.