Orange, Calif. - Last time Arizona Christian University faced Chapman University in men's basketball on Jan. 26, Chapman prevailed by 33 points. An improved Arizona Christian squad (10-16) cut down the margin of victory to 12 points, 71-59, in Saturday, Feb. 18 non-conference action at Hutton Sports Center in Orange, California. Chapman accounted for nine points of the difference at the free throw line, where it enjoyed a 14-5 advantage. Winners of six of its last seven games, Chapman ended ACU's three-game winning streak, but ACU still has won eight of its last 11. 

ACU, coached by Rick Roth, completes its 2011-12 season with a home PCAC and Senior Night contest against Portland Bible College (4-19, 1-9 PCAC), Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. ACU's two graduating seniors, guards Josh Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) and Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy), ACU's career three-point field goal leader with 208, will be honored prior to the game. 

In the Jan. 26 game between the teams in Phoenix, ACU shot just 38 percent from the field (19- 50) and totaled just 18 rebounds and five three-pointers while Chapman shot 63.0 percent (34- 54) with seven three-pointers and 36 rebounds. By contrast, the Firestorm demonstrated considerable improvement by shooting .50.0 percent (22-44) with 10 three-pointers in 21 attempts (.476) and defensively held the Panthers to 18 fewer points while scoring three more than last time. ACU also cut down the rebound margin from 18 to nine. Chapman shot 45.6 percent from the field (26-57) with five three-pointers the second time around with ACU. 

Chapman appeared to be on its way to another huge win over the Firestorm, leading by 16 points twice in the first 15 minutes of the contest. After the Panthers went up 30-14 with 5:10 left in the first half, the Firestorm sliced the advantage to 10 points twice before trailing 36-22 at 

intermission. 

The host Panthers led by 18 points three times in the second half. After going up 47-29 with 16:52 left, ACU scored nine consecutive points and trailed 47-38 with 14 minutes left. Chapman answered with nine consecutive points and led 56-38 with 10:42 left and 58-40 with 10:22 remaining. Again ACU sliced Chapman's lead to nine points, 64-55, with 1:43 on the clock and 66-57 with 57 seconds left. 

Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Wells H.S.) led ACU with 12 points with one three-pointer, and sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S.) contributed 10 points off the ACU bench and hit two three-pointers and grabbed three rebounds. Sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.) finished with 9 points points, one three-pointer, three rebounds, and a steal, and Friend totaled eight points with two three-pointers. Cole added six points, two three-pointers, two rebounds and an assist, and freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.), who scored 33 points with seven three-pointers, 7 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in 23 minutes on Feb. 17 against Walla Walla, finished with just five points, one three-pointer, three rebounds and one steal in 17 minutes against Chapman Saturday night. 

Senior guard Brandon Lin accounted for 24 points, 16 in the second half, two three-pointers, five rebounds, a blocked shot, two assists and two steals for Chapman, and senior center Ben Ricard added 14 points, five rebounds and two steals. Off the Panthers' bench, Garrett James and Taylor Hamasaki each scored nine points. James made two three-pointers and had three rebounds and a steal. Forward Brian Pearson added seven points.