Twenty-four points and seven rebounds from CJ Miller helped Westmont Men’s Basketball (10-2, 2-1 GSAC) capture a 79-75 Golden State Athletic Conference win in Costa Mesa over the Lions of Vanguard (9-5, 1-2). Miller made 11 of 18 shots from the field including one from beyond the arc.
“CJ was excellent,” said Westmont head coach John Moore. “He made big shot after big shot. CJ was the key player on the court tonight.”
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Down by one (15-14) in the first half, Westmont pulled ahead with a 7-0 run constructed out of a layup by Landon Boucher (7 points, 3 rebounds) and a three-pointer and a layup by Niko Brooks (9 points, 3 rebounds). By halftime, the Warriors had extended their advantage to 13 (39-26).
Halfway through the second half, Westmont went up by 19 (57-38) on a layup by Jordan Sachs (8 points, 8 rebounds). It would prove to be their largest lead of the game. With 7:43 remaining in the game, Boucher nailed a three-pointer to put the Warriors up 60-45.
However, over the next six minutes, the Lions outscored the Warriors 23-10. With 1:44 remaining, Vanguard’s Christopher Kupets stole the ball and completed a layup to move the Lions within two (70-68). Vanguard would get no closer, however, as the Warriors sank nine of ten free throw attempts in the final minute to keep the Lions at bay.
“Everyone wants to have a 20-point victory but tonight’s was not meant to be,” said Moore. “They hit a bunch of threes – some contested, some not contested. Vanguard is a good team at home and to walk out of The Pit with a win is a good sign.”
Nate Gibbs went four for four from the free throw line in the final minute. Gibbs tallied 10 points and five rebounds in the game.
The Warriors resume conference play on Saturday when they host San Diego Christian at 7:30 p.m. in Murchison Gymnasium.
