Box Score PHOENIX, AZ– The 17th ranked Arizona Christian Firestorm men's basketball team defeated the defending NAIA National Champion Vanguard Lions on Saturday afternoon by a score of 65-58 inside of the Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, Arizona.
With the victory, the 17th ranked Firestorm improve to 15-3 overall and remain undefeated in GSAC play at 4-0. With the loss, the Vanguard Lions who are currently receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 National Poll fall to 11-7 overall and 3-2 in GSAC play.
The first half was controlled by the defending champion Vanguard Lions, as they shot 43% from the floor in the first half to take a 35-30 advantage into halftime. The Lions shot 42% (6-for-14) from beyond the three-point arc and shot 50% (3-of-6) from the free-throw line. Arizona Christian shot 10-for-24 from the field in the first half and went just 4-for-10 from beyond the three-point arc. The Firestorm also struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 60% (6-for-10). Vanguard owned the offensive glass in the first half, outrebounding ACU 13-7.
In the second half, the Firestorm outscored Vanguard 35-23. Vanguard committed 23 team fouls in the second half that allowed ACU to shoot 30 free-throws; 20 of which they made. ACU shot just 35% from the floor (7-for-20) in the second half, but made it count from the free-throw line. Vanguard shot 21% from the floor (7-for-32) in the second half and went 2-for-16 from beyond the three-point arc.
In the victory, three Firestorm players scored in double-figures; with Bobby Gray leading the way. Gray finished with 18 points on 4-of-8 shooting and he went 10-for-15 from the charity stripe.
The Firestorm men will now hit the road for a pair of conference games at The Master's College and at Westmont College. First up, will be The Master's College this coming Thursday, with a special 2:30pm matinee. ACU will return home on January 24th, when William Jessup comes to town.
