BOX SCORE

AZUSA, Calif. — Sophomore Rocky Hampton came off the bench to score 16 points for Biola, but it was not enough as Azusa Pacific recorded a 60-50 victory in front of a crowd of 2,927 in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at the Felix Event Center.

The Eagles fall to 11-9 on the season and wrap up the first half of the GSAC slate with a 3-7 record. The Cougars improve to 13-7 overall and are 6-4 in conference play. 

Hampton led Biola with 16 points and added nine boards while Danny Jones scored nine points and with six boards. Guard Josh Salo scored nine off the bench thanks to three three-pointers. 

Azusa Pacific received a game-high 23 points from Davon Roberts on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. Todd Martin added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Both teams battled hard and the rivalry game lived up to its always-high expectations. In the first, the teams exchanged baskets through the first 15 minutes as the lead changed eight times in the first half alone. With 4:32 to go before the half, Azusa Pacific took its biggest lead of the period at 23-18 on a layup Davon Roberts.

The Eagles managed to close within one a few minutes later at 27-26 on a backdoor, reverse layup by Marlon King off a behind-the-back pass from Rocky Hampton. Roberts then gave the Cougars a four-point halftime lead a minute later with a 10-foot jumper from the elbow with six seconds remaining.

Roberts had 12 points at the half as the Cougars shot 52 percent from the field to Biola's 40 percent in the first period.

In the second half, Azusa Pacific took its largest lead of the game at 41-34 at the 11:41 mark on a three-pointer by Todd Martin. The Eagles pulled within two later in the half on a pair of free throws by Rocky Hampton, but Roberts drained a deep three to put Azusa Pacific back up five with 6:31 to go.

At the 4:30 mark, Hampton hit a hook-shot from six feet out to make it 48-45 with but the Cougars responded with a quick 6-0 run capped by a David Burgess layup to make it 54-45 with just 1:39 to play. Azusa Pacific then hit its free throws down the stretch to cap the victory.

The game was the 91st game between these rivals which Azusa Pacific now leads 48-43. The victory was the sixth straight by Azusa Pacific in the series with the Eagles last victory coming during the 2003-04 season.

The Eagles open the second half of GSAC play at home on Saturday, hosting San Diego Christian College at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 2) at Chase Gymnasium.