Box Score
Niko Brooks poured in 22 points, Preston Branson added 20 and C.J. Miller notched 19 as Westmont Men's Basketball (3-0) produced a 97-90 win over Cal State San Bernardino (0-1) on Tuesday night in a fast-paced game. "It was even faster paced than the Westminster game," said Westmont head coach John Moore. "It felt like the Phoenix Suns from four or five years ago. We played an outstanding Division II program tonight that is going to be very good. They will compete for the CCAA (championship). We had competitive strength down the stretch in much the same way that we did against Westminster."


Brooks made nine of ten from the floor including two of two from beyond the arc. He also had three assists and three rebounds. Branson made seven of 15 field goals and went six of seven from the free throw line. He also pulled down five rebounds. Miller scored on eight of 14 field goal attempts with two three-points and also collected five rebounds. Cal State San Bernardino was led in scoring by Brian Goins who tallied 29 points and five rebounds. Goins was 10 of 20 from the field including three of six from three-point range. He also made all six of his attempted free throws. "Niko had the game of his career," said Moore. "I don't think there was anyone more important for us than Niko Brooks tonight. He led the team, starting on the defensive end. He pressured the ball. Sometimes shots that are missed late are a result of fatigue. Goins was a very special player, but he missed a couple of shots late that may have been the result of having to play against a pesky player like Niko."


The game was close throughout with 22 lead changes and 14 ties. With 1:36 remaining in the first half, Westmont went up 48-45 on a layup by Marcus Farrand (4 points) and six seconds later, the Coyotes Pablo Genevo scored on a traditional three-point play to tie the game at 48-all. After a layup by Westmont's Daniel Carlin (4 points, 3 rebounds), San Bernardino's Taylor Statham (9 points, 3 rebounds) struck from three-point range. A steal by Statham on the ensuing Westmont possession set up Goins for a jumper, giving the Coyotes a 53-50 halftime advantage. With 8:18 remaining in the second half, Preston Branson gave the Warriors their largest lead to that point in the game (76-60). However, a 6-0 Coyote run over the next two and three-quarter minutes tied the game at 76-all with 5:34 left to play. On the next possession, Cooper Damron (8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) dished the ball to Mantas Drungys (10 points, 6 rebounds) who drained a basket from three-point territory.


After a fruitless San Bernardino possession, Drungys was fouled and converted one of two free throw attempts, making the score 80-76 with 4:34 to play. Branson was fouled on the next possession and made one of two from the charity stripe to stretch the Warrior advantage to five. A minute later, San Bernardino's Lacy Haddock (6 points) converted an "and-one" play to make it a two-point game Haddock's three-point play at 3:03 started a series of fast-paced possessions over the next two and one-half minutes during which every trip down the floor resulted in points. Haddock's points were followed by a lay-up by Brooks. Then Goins connected for a jumper for the Coyotes and Miller did the same for the Warriors. Goins followed that with a three-pointer to make it 87-86, and then fouled Brooks who made both free throws. Miller then fouled Haddock who also converted both attempts to make it 89-88.


With 0:54 to play, Miller drained his second three-pointer of the night, putting Westmont up 92-88. Goins then sank two more free throws and Sachs followed suit. With 0:21 to play, the streak of 12 successive scoring possessions was broken when Brooks snatched a pass from Haddock and streaked down the floor for a lay-up. That put the Warriors up by six (96-90) for just the second time in the game. The Coyotes got off two shots on their next possession, but converted neither one. Drungys made a free throw with five seconds to go to account for the final score. When the horn sounded, the Warriors had won by scoring on their last nine possessions and getting big defensive stops on the Coyotes' final three.
The Warriors will take their 3-0 record on the road this weekend. On Friday, Westmont will play at Pomona-Pitzer, and then take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. "I think the next two games are going to be really challenging because they are opposite of what we have been playing," said Moore. "They are teams that are methodical and their players are hungry to beat an NAIA school. Pomona and Claremont are tough environments to go into." [box score] [more photos]