RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Less than a week after playing each other in the regular-season finale, Azusa Pacific defeated Chaminade in the rubber match on Thursday, 79-69, to win the first-round encounter at the 2018 PacWest Men’s Basketball Tournament.

BOX SCORE        AZUSA PACIFIC INTERVIEW        CHAMINADE INTERVIEW
 
No. 3 Azusa Pacific only trailed for one minute in the game en route to the win, setting up a semifinal with No. 2 California Baptist. The Cougars boosted their record on the season to 20-9. It is the third time in the last four years that Azusa Pacific has won at least 20 games. No. 6 Chaminade finished the season with a 16-12 record.
 
Will Ferris gave the Cougar offense an early spark from 3-point territory and finished the game with 18 points, making 7 of 10 field goals. Petar Kutlesic scored a team-high 20 points along with seven rebounds and four assists.
 
Chamiande led for one minute, but Azusa Pacific answered with an 8-0 run that started with a jumper by Ferris followed by a Darien McClain trey and a 3-point play from Kutlesic. That lead ballooned to 13 points when Kutlesic made a lay-up at the start of the second half. Chaminade only got as close as within eight points for the rest of the game.
 
The Silverswords offense was led by Justin Bridges with 12 points, while Erik Scheive added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Austin Pope wrapped up the final game of his collegiate career with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal.
 
Azusa Pacific will meet California Baptist for the third time this year. The Lancers won both regular season meetings and brings a 10-game winning streak into the tournament where they are looking to improve on a runner-up finish last year.