No. 6 Azusa Pacific Eliminated, 97-73

It was a short stay for No. 6-seeded Azusa Pacific in the NAIA Division I men’s basketball championship at Tulsa, Okla.

Azusa Pacific was eliminated in the first round of the 32-team tournament Wednesday in a 97-73 loss loss to Faulkner (Ala.)

Six-foot-6 junior forward Treives Henry and senior guard Emerius Washington each scored 18 points and freshman Paul Little had 16 points and 11 rebounds as Faulkner shot 58.1% to keep Azusa Pacificfrom making a game of it in the second half.

Jerome Joseph scored a game-high 28 points for Azusa Pacific, which trailed 48-37 at halftime and never got within nine points the rest of the game. Former UCLA forward Kevin Daley scored 16 points and had seven rebounds for Azusa Pacific.

Damion Raibon brought Azusa Pacific (27-6) within 57-46 less than four minutes into the second half, but Faulkner’s Ben Baxter answered with a three-point basket and set the tone for the final 16 minutes.

Faulkner will play Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) today.

Biola 92, St. Xavier (Ill.) 78--Seniors Andrew Carlson, Marcus White and Jacque Collins each scored 21 points as No. 10-seeded Biola shot 53.1% from the field to win going away. Biola (26-7) will play No. 7 Lambuth (Tenn.) today.

Oklahoma City 70, Westmont 62--Senior forward L.J. Johnson scored 23 points and No. 5-seeded Oklahoma City shot 72.2% in the second half to defeat Westmont (22-11). Senior Chris Gonzales scored 36 points and had nine rebounds in 35 minutes to lead Westmont. Oklahoma City will play Spring Hill (Ala.) today.