Box Score

SEATTLE (Nov. 9) -- Azusa Pacific University's B.J. Porter hit seven 3-pointers, including an extra-long range shot to send the game to overtime, and the Cougars hung on to beat Central Washington University, 102-99, in the men's basketball season-opener for both teams at the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic on Friday evening.

Porter finished the night with 24 points and teammate Troy Leaf, who also connected on a timely trey to cut the margin to five midway through the second half, had 27 points along with nine assists in the game in Brougham Pavilion. Will Ward added 19 and Christian Katuala has 12 points for the Cougars.

CWU was led by Inglemoor High product MARK MCLAUGHLIN (Bothell), who scored a game-high 31 points on 12-of-24 from the field, including three treys. Senior BRANDON MAGEE (Spanaway/Bethel HS) pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds to go with his 13 points for the Wildcats.

Central Washington jumped out to a strong start over Azusa Pacific and led 14 at the half, 54-40. CWU maintained the double-figure lead until the Cougars went on a 6-0 run to cut the Wildcats' lead to six, 66-60, with 11:46 remaining.

Porter hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull into a 76-76 tie with 5:40 remaining and APU took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game when Ward hit a jumper just under the four-minute mark.

Porter sank his seventh trey to open overtime, and then Ward carried the Cougars, hitting 2 of 3 from the field and 3 of 3 from the line.

Senior JORDAN COBY (Tacoma/Woodrow Wilson HS) hit a final three-pointer for the Wildcats at the buzzer, but it was too late as the Cougars escaped with the opening-night victory.
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CWU will face Academy of Art at 3:00 p.m. and Azusa Pacific meets tournament host Seattle Pacific at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.