Tyler Dutton sank five of seven three-point attempts in his native state of Texas to lead Westmont men’s basketball (3-2) with 22 points against Embry-Riddle (Fla.), but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors dropped the San Antonio Shootout game 75-72.
“Tyler hit eight of 12 and played really well with great energy,” reported Westmont head coach John Moore. “What a great homecoming for him. Bobby Fenske (also of Texas) had eight points and eight rebounds and did some good things on his trip back here to Texas.”
Dutton started the Warriors scoring with a three-pointer as the Warriors went on to post an eight-point advantage (14-6) in the first three minutes and 20 seconds of the game. But Embry-Riddle responded with an 11-2 run to take a brief 17-16 lead with 13:52 remaining in the first half.
Jumpers by Ryan Aijian and Blake Bender, followed by another long-range bucket by Dutton returned Westmont’s advantage (23-17). It was a lead which the Warriors would hold until Embry-Riddle Denver Cobb (16 points) laid the ball in the basket to tie the contest at 28 with 4:08 remaining on the first-half clock. The lead would change hands four more times before the intermission horn sounded and Embry-Riddle took a 40-37 lead into the locker room.
Embry-Riddle retained the lead in the second half until Christopher Jackson (6 points, 10 rebounds) hit a jumper with 10:40 showing on the clock, tying the game at 24. A tip-in by the Eagle’s Eric Lorenzi (15 points, 10 rebounds) momentarily put Embry-Riddle back on top, but seven seconds later, Dutton drained another three to put Westmont up 59-58 with 10:15 remaining. A traditional three-point play by Embry-Riddles’ Tyler DeBord (23 points, 12 rebounds) was followed by a jumper by Westmont’s’ Dan Rasp (17 points, 5 rebounds) resulting in a 61-61 tie with 8:44 to play.
Westmont surged ahead on another jumper by Rasp and yet another three-point shot by Dutton. After Lorezi connect on two free-throw attempts, Dutton scored again, giving Westmont a 68-63 advantage as the clock rolled past 5:00 minutes. But over the last five minutes of the game, the Eagles outscored the Warriors 12-4 with half of Embry-Riddles’ points coming from the free throw line.
“We didn’t do a very good job of closing out the game,” acknowledged Moore. “Andrew Schmalbach had a three-point shot to win game, but couldn’t put it down.”
The Warriors will continue play in the San Antonio Shootout tomorrow when they will take on the Bruins of Bellevue (Neb.) at 4:00 p.m. CST. Bellevue boasts a record of 8-1.
