Phoenix, Ariz. - Arizona Christian University (8-15, 6-3 PCAC) let a 13-point lead (49-36) get away and trailed 61-56 with 4:31 left to play, but drained 3 three-pointers in the next 1:51 and regained a 65-61 lead with 2:40 remaining and then turned to its defense which allowed just three points the rest of the game and held on to a 65-64 Pacific Christian Athletics Conference victory over West Coast Baptist College (12-15, 3-7 PCAC) from Lancaster, California, in Fultz Memorial Gym on the ACU campus, Tuesday, Feb. 7. West Coast had defeated ACU, 103-90, at WCBC, Dec. 16. 

ACU, coached by Rick Roth, returns to action with a home Pacific Christian Athletics Conference (PCAC) contest against New Hope Christian College (8-20, 5-6 PCAC) from Eugene, Oregon, Thursday, Feb. 9, at 4 p.m., in Fultz Memorial Gym. ACU edged New Hope Christian, 70-63, Jan. 21, in Eugene. 

ACU led 36-28 at halftime after shooting 53.1 percent from the field (17-32) and despite missing all seven of its three-point tries in the first half. West Coast shot just 25.0 percent (9-36) with 3 three-pointers in the first half. 

The Firestorm gained three 13-point leads in the first 6:38 of the second half. Sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S.) canned three consecutive baskets in a two-minute span and gave ACU a 49-36 lead with 13:22 on the clock. However, West Coast Baptist outscored ACU, 25-7, over the next 9:51 and led 61-56, the Eagles' widest advantage of the contest. A pair of three-pointers by reserve forward Ryan Holmes made the score 52-51 ACU at 6:45 and tied the game at 54-54 with 5:51 left. Junior Carlos Johnson scored five points, and ACU committed seven turnovers which WCBC converted into nine gift points during the streak. 

ACU's senior co-captain Joshua Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) drained his second three- pointer of the second half at 4:13, and Cornelius dropped a three-point bomb from the top of the 

circle to put the Firestorm ahead 62-61 at 3:54. Cole's third three-pointer at 2:40 put ACU ahead 65-61, but the Firestorm did not score and attempted just two field goals after that point. Meanwhile, WCBC made just one of its last six shots, and Cole blocked one, and Johnson made one of two free throws as the Eagles failed to mount a winning rally. ACU rebounded a shot by guard Davy Sisson with three seconds left. 

Cornelius led ACU with 13 points, nine in the second half, eight rebounds and a steal off the bench, and freshman forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) made all six of his shots and finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, one blocked shot and a steal. Cole added 11 points and 3 three-pointers in the second half, and had two assists and a blocked shot, and the team's leading scorer and rebounder, sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.) contributed eight points, four rebounds, three steals and a steal. Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Wells H.S.) scored seven points and dished out four assists, and freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.) totaled six points, four rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal. 

Johnson, who torched ACU for 34 points and 21 rebounds in the team's earlier meeting this season, scored 17 points and gathered 12 rebounds, and forward Colton Cochran, who scored 24 points vs. ACU, Dec. 16, added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Holmes scored 11 points with 3 three-pointers off the WCBC bench, and guard Akeem Smith added 10 points, two assists and two steals.