Phoenix, Ariz. – Chapman University (12-6) shot 63.0 percent from the field (34-54) for the game and doubled Arizona Christian's rebounding total, 36-18, in its 89-56 non-conference collegiate men's basketball victory over the Firestorm, Thursday, Jan. 26, in Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the ACU campus in north Phoenix. Arizona Christian University (7-14) lost for the first time in its last six games and shot just 38.0 percent for the game (18-50).
Coached by Rick Roth, ACU plays its Homecoming Game in Fultz Memorial Gymnasium, Saturday, Jan. 28, when it meets California State University-San Marcos (13-9), at 4 p.m. ACU upset CSU-San Marcos, 94-89, in overtime, Dec. 19.
Chapman led 9-1 after the first 4:19 of the first half and led 19-6 with 12:35 left. Guards Brandon Lin and Andrew Avalos scored Chapman's first 14 points, nine by Lin. Chapman maintained at least a four-point lead throughout the rest of the first half, and after ACU closed the gap to 30-26 with 6:05 left before intermission, Chapman finished the half with a 14-3 run and led 44-29 at halftime after a three-pointer with one second remaining by starting forward Brian Pearson. The visitors shot 62.1 percent from the field (34-54) while ACU made just 9 of its 26 shots (.346) in the first half.
The Panthers began the second half equally as hot and scored the first 11 points of the period to lead 55-29 with 15:50 left in the game. Chapman, which shot 64 percent from the field in the second half (16-25), later led twice by as many as 35 points late in the contest, and ACU drew no closer than 21 points, 69-48, after consecutive baskets by freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.), including a steal and a two-hand slam dunk with 8:34 left and an offensive rebound basket at 7:47.
Avent finished with 15 points, three-pointers, three rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal, and sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.), ACU's leading scorer (16.1 pg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg) this season, totaled a team-best 19 points and two three-
pointers, and had 2 rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal. Sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S.) added six points, three rebounds and one blocked shot, and junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.) totaled eight points, seven in the second half, and two rebounds. ACU managed just 18 rebounds in the game, 10 off the defensive glass, with two players gathering three boards each.
Four Chapman players scored 11 or more points, led by Lin's 21 points, 13 in the first half. Lin drilled 3 three-pointers, passed five assists and stole the ball three times. Senior forward Ben Ricard finished with 16 points, 14 in the second half, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Avalos added 13 points, 10 in the first half, two three-pointers, three assists and one steal. Off the bench, freshman guard Taylor Hamasaki tallied 11 points with one three-pointer, three rebounds and three assists, and forward Colin Chadwick added seven points, five rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal.
ACU shot 38.0 percent from the field (19-50) for the game, 31.3 percent from three-point range (5-16) and 86.7 percent from the free throw line (13-15), committed 16 costly turnovers, nine in the second half, blocked three shots and stole the ball five times. Chapman shot 63.0 percent from the field (34-54), 63.6 percent from three-point range (7-11) and 82.4 percent from the free throw line (14-17), and out-rebounded ACU, 36-18, and 24-10 on the defensive glass. The Panthers committed 13 turnovers and stole the ball from ACU eight times.
