Box Score PHOENIX, Ariz. – The 19th ranked Arizona Christian Firestorm men's basketball team defeated the Vanguard University Lions on Thursday evening by a final of 79-71 in a GSAC First Round Tournament Game inside of Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Arizona Christian University.
With the victory, the 19th ranked Firestorm improve to 24-7 overall. With the loss, the Vanguard Lions season comes to an end with an overall record of 16-15.
The first half featured a pair of runs by both teams, in an evenly matched half. Both squads came out with a few jitters, but quickly settled down. At halftime, the Firestorm took a slim 40-34 lead into the locker room. ACU shot 53% (14-for-26) from the field and shot 77% (7-of-9) from beyond the three-point arc. The Firestorm attempted seven free-throws in the first half, making five of them. Vanguard shot just 39% (13-for-33) in the first half and struggled behind the three-point arc, shooting 23% (3-for-13). The Lions, like the Firestorm shot 5-of-7 from the free-throw line in the first half.
The Firestorm had the momentum in their favor for most of the second half; even though you couldn't tell by reading the box score. ACU outscored Vanguard by two points at 39-37 in the second half, but won the game by eight points. The Firestorm shot 48% (12-for-25) from the floor, but struggled from deep; shooting 30% (3-for-10) from beyond the three-point arc. Arizona Christian attempted 16 free-throws in the second half, converting on 12 of them. Vanguard struggled to shoot the ball in the second half, shooting just 36% (14-for-38) from the field and 26% (6-for-23) from beyond the three-point arc. The Lions also struggled from the free-throw line in the second half, making just three of their eight attempts.
In the victory, the Firestorm had three players finish in double-figures. Brandon Newman led the way with 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Senior guard Charles King had 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting in what could have been his last game inside of Fultz Memorial Gymnasium.
The Firestorm men will next be in action this Saturday, March 7th against either Hope International University or William Jessup. Check www.acufirestorm.com in the morning, for the Firestorm's next opponent, game time and location.
