Box Score
In a rematch of last season's NAIA National Championship's semifinal game, #14 Westmont Men's Basketball (7-3, 1-1 GSAC) was pitted against #10 Hope International in a Golden State Athletic Conference match-up. In a closely contested game, the Royals' Dominique Lanier completed a layup with five seconds remaining to give Hope International (8-1, 1-0) a 66-64 win.
With the exception of a 2-2 tie, Hope International led throughout the first half. The Royal's biggest lead of the game came with just over three minutes to play in the opening frame on a jumper by Kyle Hoag.
Westmont 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 gave the ball back to Hope International, but 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 us much of the clock to expire as possible before Lanier drove the lane and scored to claim the win.
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.
The Warriors will play two games next week before taking off for the Christmas break. On Friday at 2:30, Westmont will host Pacific Union. Then on Saturday, the Warriors will welcome Northwest Indian (Wash.) beginning at 7:30 p.m.
