GAME OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood men's basketball team (1-0) defeated Azusa Pacific (0-1) in a 77-61 victory on Friday night in Orange, Calif. to open the 2018-19 season.  Chris King was lights out from behind the arc and led all scorers with 28 points.
 
The Lions jumped out to an 11-7 advantage at the 14:55 mark over an Azusa Pacific team that is receiving votes in the national polls and made an appearance in the national tournament last season.  The Cougars flipped the script as they held Lindenwood scoreless for the next 7:39 of play, taking a 26-11 lead.  Nicklas Jonsson hit a three pointer with 6:39 remaining in the half to rejuvenate the Lions on offense.  Lindenwood fought back to a six-point deficit near the end of the half, but a three pointer at the buzzer gave the Cougars a nine-point advantage at the break.
 
Azusa Pacific came out swinging in the second half and built a 16-point lead less than five minutes into the second frame.  The junior transfer, King immediately nailed a three-pointer and took over.  King sparked the Lions after another made three ball to make it a 10-point game with 15:30 to go in the second half.  Brad Newman and Diego Womack each made a layup to cut the deficit down and King hit back-to-back threes to tie the game at 47-47 with 13:02 left in the game.
 
The two teams traded buckets for the next five minutes, but King was dialed in as he put the Lions up seven points with another set of back-to-back three pointers.  Jonsson and Drew Moore pitched with three pointers of their own to help build the lead.  The Lions were 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to close out the 16-point victory to open the season.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Chris King is the first Lion since Cory Arentsen to make eight three pointers in one game.
-Adam Pohlman dished out seven assists with 11 rebounds while making all four of his free throws.
-Diego Womack was 3-for-6 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds.
- Lindenwood outrebounded Azusa Pacific 46-32.
-The Lions shot 69.2 percent (8-for-9) from three-point range in the second half.
-The Lindenwood bench accumulated 41 points, including 28 from King.
 
UP NEXT
Lindenwood (1-0) will take on No. 4 West Texas A&M (1-0) at 9:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. CT) on Saturday at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, Calif.