Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Playing its first non-conference game since the 1993-94 season, Biola and Azusa Pacific thrilled a crowd of 2,138 at Chase Gymnasium. But in the end, the Eagles could not contain a three-point barrage from the Cougars as APU escaped with a 71-64 win on Friday night.

Biola falls to 7-4 on the season with its second-straight loss and first at home this year. Azusa Pacific improves to 4-2 in its first season playing as NCAA Division II members. 

The two former GSAC rivals, who had met at least two times each season since Biola joined the GSAC in 1994-95, put on a show with the atmosphere more closely resembling that of a do-or-die playoff game than an early-season, non-conference game. The game saw Azusa Pacific pull away numerous times only to see Biola fight back and work back to a one-possession game. However, the Eagles just could not get over the hump.

Azusa Pacific seemed unable to miss from long-range, hitting 13-of-25 three-pointers in the game including 8-of-12 from beyond the arc in the second half. The Cougars' three-point percentage (52.0%) proved higher than their free throw percentage (30.8%).

Biola had a relatively solid game as well, hitting 41.9 percent from the field and hitting eight three-pointers. But the Eagles also struggled from the charity stripe, connecting on just 33.3 percent of their free throws. 

Azusa Pacific also used a strong edge on the boards to outscore Biola 16-7 in second-chance points. The Cougars held a 46-34 rebounding edge and pulled down 16 offensive rebounds to the Eagles' 10.

Senior David Cline led Biola with 16 points and added five rebounds, two steals and two assists. He hit 8-of-13 from the field all in just 22 minutes. Junior Zack Zaragoza scored 13 points and added seven rebounds while Cody Wittick and Dakota Anderson each contributed 10 points.

The teams got off to a back-and-forth start in the first half with the Cougars using a 10-2 run over a three-minute stretch to take an early 17-9 lead. Biola slowly worked it down to one at 19-18 on a fastbreak bucket by Anderson with 8:10 to go in the half. Azusa Pacific quickly stretched the lead back up to six and eventually took a seven-point lead of 30-23 to the halftime locker room

The Cougars used a 7-3 run to start the second half and stretched the lead to 37-26 three minutes into the second half. Biola answered back with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes capped by a three-pointer then a fastbreak layup by Wittick. That made it a 39-36 game with 13:46 to play. 

But Azusa Pacific again answered back as B.J. Porter hit a long-range three-pointer on the next possession to make it a six-point game at 42-36. A few minutes later, Zaragoza drained a three-pointer to make it a four-point game. The Eagles could not get any closer, though as Azusa Pacific slowly stretched the lead up to as many as 13 on a three-pointer by Tyler Goldston which made it 70-57 with 1:35 to play. 

Biola made a late run as Mike Kurtz hit a layup with 41 seconds left. After a steal on the next possession, Kurtz made it a nine-point game with a dunk. After Azusa Pacific missed the front-end of a one-and-one, Wittick drained a long three with 21 seconds left to make it 70-64. But Troy Leaf hit one of two free throws on the other end and a three-pointer by the Eagles was missed to steal the game.

Kurtz had 13 rebounds to lead Biola and added four blocks to up his average to 2.5 per game which ranks second in the NAIA.

Biola takes a bit of a break, hosting Trinity Western University (B.C.) on Monday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m.