Strong first half paces Arizona Christian over Panthers

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's basketball team suffered its first home loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling to visiting Arizona Christian University 71-59 at the Hutton Center. The Firestorm built a 23-point halftime lead and then withstood a fierce Panther second-half comeback to remain unbeaten this season.

With Arizona Christian (6-0) leading by eight points midway through the first half, the Firestorm closed the first period on a 19-4 run, limiting Chapman (2-2) to just two field goals over the final 10:22. All the while, ACU shot over 64 percent from the field in the half, including 6 of 14 from three-point range and led 44-21 at the intermission.

ACU's Talib Uqdah scored 14 points in the first, including four three-pointers. The senior finished with a game-high 21 points and a pair of assists.

Some second half adjustments and high-percentage shooting for the Panthers over the final 20 minutes led to a sway in momentum. Still trailing by 21 with 13:21 left in the game, Chapman went on a 9-0 run thanks, in part, to a pair of steals and fast break layups by junior G Taylor Hamasaki. Chapman would later cut the lead to 11 on a three-point basket by junior G Colin Zavrsnick with 3:26 left, but that was as close as it would get.

Hamasaki scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the second half as Chapman shot over 58 percent from the floor in the period. Junior PG Garrett James finished with 12 points and Zavrsnick chipped in 11.

Senior F Jordan Block and senior C Mateus Oliveira each added 10 points off the bench for Arizona Christian – part of the Firestorm's 30 points off the bench.

The game was the last non-conference game for Chapman for a while as the Panthers open SCIAC play after the Thanksgiving holiday, traveling to defending conference champion Redlands on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/boxscores/20131126_4hxa.xml

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#CUPanthers