By Christy Cain

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) "The beginning of this season was like the start of a book being written," opened head coach John Moore. "I am not sure how many people really believed back then that this team would be playing in the semi-finals of the NAIA National Tournament. But I told our men tonight that we have more chapters to write. We are not done. Our epilogue is yet to come."

This evening, the Westmont men's basketball team added yet another chapter to the 2014-15 story that is beginning to look a lot like a fairy tale. The men defeated 13 seeded Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 78-66 in the quarter finals of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament.

"It's really, really difficult to get to the semi-finals of this tournament" explained Moore. "I have been there once before and I thought that that was extremely difficult to get to as well. In 1999, the round of eight was particularly challenging for us, just like tonight's game was for our men."

After playing two games that have started later than 11 p.m., everyone thought that the timing of tonight's game would play in the Warrior's favor. But when the men took the court for tip off, nothing seemed to quite go their way. The Evangels came out of the gate hot and went 15 for 28 from the field and shot 50 percent from the three point line.

Mid America Christian started the game with an 8-0 run and the Warriors struggled to work their way out of the point deficit for the entire first half. They seemed one step behind for most of the first twenty minutes. They were getting good looks, but their shots were not dropping and the Evangles capitalized on their opportunities. By halftime, the Warrior men put themselves back within eight points, with a score of 36-28.

This is the point where this chapter of the story takes a huge turn. As Westmont took the court to warm up before the final twenty minutes of the game, something about them was different. There was some pep back in their step and an undeniable energy about them. The fire was back in their eyes.

"The main thing I wanted to do at halftime was give them a lot of confidence," explained Moore. "I said to them 'we have played five halves so far in this tournament and four of those halves you have played very well. This second half you are going to make it five out of six'. I think they completely bought into that. I looked each of them in the eye for a long period of time and said to each 'lets go out there and have fun.'"

The second half was unlike any half that the Warrior men have played this season. Cory Blau went on an immediate run to score the first five points of the half and the men never looked back. Four minutes into the second, the Warriors took their first lead of the game and never gave it back.

Offensively, Westmont shot 15 for 21 (71.4 percent) in the final 20 minutes and nailed 50 percent of their three point shots. When they stepped to the line, they made 17 of their 23 free throw attempts and with each shot, they frustrated the Evangels more and more.

Blau, who did not make one single basket in the first half, exploded in the second and scored all 25 of his points in the final stretch of the game. "Cory had no points first half, then came out and ended at seven for seven from the free throw line and eight for 13 from the field. He truly is a clutch player. We got the ball to him at the right spots and he was outstanding tonight" raved Moore.

While the offense was on fire, there was an intensity about their defense that completely shut Mid America down. The Warriors only allowed the Evangels to make one three point bucket out of their 15 attempts. While Westmont scored 50 total points in the final half, their opponents only scored 30. "Our tenacity in the second half was storybook. We will remember that for years to come" exclaimed Moore.

"Daniel was key for us tonight. He didn't get a double-double but he was certainly close. I thought our offensive rebounds made a big, big difference in this game'" said Moore. Carlin ended with 24 points, eight rebounds (five offensive, three defensive), four assists, two blocks and one steal on the night. Even when he was double teamed and locked down, Carlin found ways to score.

Freshman Jerry Karczewski had another spectacular performance with a couple of energy building shots from outside the arc and a total of 10 points. Britton Williams was a defensive key tonight as he had a team high of three steals that transitioned into assists and ultimately more points on the board.

Two games stand between the Warriors and an NAIA National Championship title. As they take the court against fellow Golden State Athletic Conference team and number one seed Hope International on Monday March 23 at 8 p.m. CDT, Westmont is bound and determined to add another great chapter to the story of the 2014-15 season.

In the meantime, if anyone asks about title ideas for this season's story, one great title comes to mind: Cinderella.