Azusa Pacific Advances

Azusa Pacific overcame a slow start and defeated Oklahoma City, 80-72, Saturday in an NAIA Division I men’s quarterfinal game at Kansas City, Mo.

John Bourne scored 20 points for the ninth-seeded Cougars (28-7), who will play fifth-seeded Oklahoma Baptist in a semifinal Monday. It will be Azusa Pacific’s third straight semifinal appearance.

Oklahoma City (26-6) opened the game with a 17-6 run but the Cougars rallied for a 31-30 lead at halftime. The Cougars shot 37% in the first half.

“In the first half, we weren’t making the extra pass,” Coach Bill Odell said. “We were doing too many things on our own. We know we can shoot the ball. We just needed to get open.”

The Cougars shot 60% in the second half and 67% (eight for 12) from three-point range.

Junior Caleb Gervin’s two free throws with 4:13 to play gave the Cougars the lead for good, 66-64. Gervin finished with 17 points.

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Barat 91, Westmont 79--Mitch Pierce led all scorers with 27 points and had 12 rebounds, but the Warriors fell in a quarterfinal at Kansas City, Mo.

The unseeded Warriors (22-10) led, 51-40, with 16:05 to play, but Troy Farrow sparked the comeback effort by 15th-seeded Barat (33-5). He finished with 27 points.

Junior guard Will Gulley had 19 points for Westmont.