After winning its second game in as many days, No. 8 Westmont Men’s Basketball (2-0) hopes to disprove the ad slogan that says, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
Competing in the Tip-off Classic hosted by Concordia (Calif.) and Robert Morris (Ill.), the Warriors defeated the #13 Griffins of Westminster (Utah) by a score of 88-81 one day after defeating #23 Montana State Northern 70-56.
“It was a great battle today between two great NAIA schools that play a lot alike,” reported Westmont head coach. “There are quite a few things to take away from a tournament like this.”
The game physical game was close throughout with neither team able to pull away from the other.
“They had a seven point lead in the second half and I thought they might blow it open,” acknowledged Moore. “Then, we had a seven point lead in the second half and I thought we might blow it open. Today’s game felt like about three games in one because of the momentum switches.
“It came down to making free throws late and getting stops on the defensive end,” continued the coach. “We were the team with the last momentum swing.
“Westminster went up by one on a three-point shot with two and one-half minutes. On the next possession, we kicked it out to the three-point line and C.J. hit a really big three-pointer to put us back up 80-78. We never lost the lead from that point forward. We closed out the game with free throws and good execution both offensively and defensively.”
“Preston Branson was about 10 for 10 from the free throw line with more than 20 points,” said Moore. “Niko Brooks had a tenacious defensive game and did a nice job on their point guard. Mantas Drungys got a couple of big charges and big rebounds. We had four guys with four fouls and Cooper Damron fouled out so it was a challenge just to finish the game.”
The two teams may meet up again when Westminster travels to Santa Barbara at the end of December to take part in the 37th Annual Tom Byron Classic. The Griffins will take on St. Xavier (Ill.) in the first game on December 28 and the Warriors will face William Jessup in the second game. Depending on results of the first days’ games, the two teams could match up again on the second day of the Byron.
The Warriors’ next opponent will be Cal State San Bernardino on Tuesday in the Warriors only home game this month.
