Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- All five starters scored in double-figures with sophomore Zach Zaragoza draining five three-pointers before leaving with an injury as Biola cruised to an 80-65 win over the University of Calgary in a non-conference game on Friday night at Chase Gymnasium.
The Eagles bounce back from a tough loss just 24 hours before to improve to 11-3 on the season, dropping the Dinos to 7-11 overall.
Zaragoza lit up the game from three-point range, hitting 5-of-7--all in the first half--to finish with 18 points for the Eagles. Kaimarr price added 17 points and six rebounds while Andre Murillo scored 14 points.
Zaragoza helped the Eagles break the game open in the first half, connecting on five-straight three pointers midway through the period. With Biola leading by seven at 19-12, Zaragoza hit three's on back-to-back possessions--recording a steal in between--to quickly stretch the lead to 13 with 9:35 to go.
With 6:15 to go, the Dinos were whistled for a technical on the head coach and Zaragoza drained the two technical free throws then hit a three-pointer to account for five points in a 13-second span. The trey--his fifth of the first half--gave Biola its largest lead of the first half at 38-16.
Calgary would cut into the lead with a three-point barrage of its own and trailed by just 13 at 48-35 at the break.
Both teams hit six three-pointers in the first half with all but four of the Calgary field goals coming from behind the arc. Biola was 6-of-13 from three-point land in the first 20 minutes.
The game stayed mostly inside the three-point line in the second half and that benefited the Eagles. Biola dominated inside against the undersized Dinos, outscoring them 22-10 in the paint over the final 20 minutes. When all was said and done, the Eagles held a 40-29 edge on the glass including 20 offensive rebounds which turned into 13 second-chance points.
Josh Wolfram led Calgary with 15 points off the bench while Andrew McGuinness added 14 points thanks to four three-pointers.
Biola starts the new year with a tough slate, returning to GSAC play with a pair of tough games on the schedule. First up is the team's final trip to Azusa for a conference game as the Eagles clash with arch-rival Azusa Pacific on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Cougars are leaving the GSAC and the NAIA for the NCAA ranks next season. Biola then returns home to face No. 1 Concordia University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
