A 28-4 run to start the second half was the Warriors' undoing as #20 Biola (16-1, 3-0 GSAC) defeated #12 Westmont Men's Basketball (12-4, 1-2) in a Golden State Athletic Conference 72-51 win in Chase Gymnasium on Tuesday night. The Warriors led by four at the half (29-25), but could not contain the Eagles in the first eight and one-half minutes of the final frame.

Biola, which boasts the best defense in the NAIA by virtue of fewest points allowed (59.6), held the Warriors to just 34.0 percent from the floor (18 of 53) and, perhaps more telling, just 16.0 percent from three-point range (4 of 25). Westmont, which entered the game as the NAIA's second best three-point shooting team (45.6 percent), missed all 11 of its three-point attempts in the second half.

No Warrior scored in double figures.

The Eagles were led in scoring and rebounding by guard Terrell Funches who tallied 20 points and nine boards. Forward Jeff Gonzales added 13 points and eight rebounds while guard Dakari Archer produced 12 points and five rebounds. Forward Steve Herve notched 10 points and seven boards.

Biola took its largest first-half lead (16-10) on a layup by Herve with just under nine minutes showing on the clock. The Warriors responded with a 12-1 run sparked when Cory Blau (seven points, three rebounds) dropped in a bucket from long range. Hayden Anderson (eight points, three rebounds) added two more three-pointers during the run.

With 3:27 remaining before intermission, Sean Harmon gave the Warriors their largest lead of the game (27-20) when he scored three points the old-fashioned way – a layup and a free throw.

The second half belonged to the home team, however, with Biola possessing at least a 20-point advantage for all by 38 seconds of the final ten minutes.

Westmont will regroup over the next week and prepare to host #9 Arizona Christian (9-6, 1-1) on Thursday, January 14 in another Golden State Athletic Conference game.