Dominique Lanier completed a layup with five seconds remaining to give No. 10 Hope International a 66-64 win over 14th-ranked Westmont in a GSAC men’s basketball game on Saturday in Fullerton.
With the exception of a 2-2 tie, Hope International (8-1, 1-0) led throughout the first half.
Westmont (7-3, 1-1) narrowed the margin to six by intermission when David Gunn scored on a jumper in the paint with five seconds remaining.
Two minutes into the second half, Westmont took its first lead of the game when Sean Harman nailed a three-pointer to give the Warriors a 42-40 advantage. From that point on, the lead changed hands 14 more times and neither team claimed more than a four point advantage.
With 2:13 remaining in regulation and the Royals edging Westmont 64-62, Cory Blau was fouled by Liam Hunt. It was Hunt’s fifth foul, disqualifying him from further play. Blau stepped to the charity stripe and knocked down both shots, tying the game at 64.
On the Royals’ resulting possession Ramon Mejia’s three-point attempt was blocked by Sean Harman with the ball going to Westmont’s Britton Williams. A Warrior turnover, however, gave the ball back to Hope International. A missed jumper by Mejia resulted in another rebound for Williams.
The Warriors’ possession resulted in a missed attempt by Harman, giving the Royals possession of the ball with 34 seconds to play. Hope International allowed much of the clock to expire before Lanier drove the lane and scored the winning basket.
Blau led the Warriors in scoring with 16 points while Sean McDonnell added 15 points and seven rebounds. Harman notched 11 points. Williams contributed seven points, eight rebounds and five assists.
