Box Score

By Ron Smith
February 18, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Sam Bentz scored 20 points and Sean McDonnell recorded a double-double as #16 Westmont Men's Basketball improved to 22-5 overall and 10-4 in Golden State Athletic Conference play with an 83-75 win over the Warriors of William Jessup (17-11, 7-7) on Saturday night in Murchison Gymnasium.
 
Bentz connected on eight of 15 attempts from the field including four from 3-point range. The 6-6 senior forward also collected five boards and three steals. McDonnell made eight of 10 shots on his way to 18 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Also scoring in double-figures were Cory Blau (14 points, 7 rebounds), Sean Harman (12 points) and Jerry Karczewski (11 points).
 
Down 7-5 early in the first quarter, Westmont went on am 11-0 run to take the lead for good. Harman started the run with a three and followed it up with a layup. Blau and Hayden Anderson added another layup each before Olisa Nwachie punctuated the end of the run with dunk that made the scored 16-7.
 
Westmont built their lead to as much as 17 in the first half, though William Jessup cut Westmont's advantage to just six by the intermission (41-35).
 
Blau gave Westmont its biggest lead of the game when he scored on a jumper with just under seven minutes to play to make the scored 72-54.
 
Once again, William Jessup rallied, cutting the lead to four points (79-75) with just 44 seconds remaining in the game. However, free throws by Karczewski and Blau in the final 33 seconds kept Jessup at bay and secured the win for Westmont.
 
In other GSAC action, #4 Biola fell at #10 Hope International 54-47 while #18 The Master's defeated Menlo 92-81. Additionally, Arizona Christian defeated Vanguard 88-81 in Phoenix.
 
As a result, Hope International sits atop the GSAC standings with a conference record of 11-3. Biola and The Master's are one-half game back with records of 11-3 while Westmont is one game behind the leader with a record of 10-4.
 
William Jessup has claimed fifth place in the conference standings and cannot move either up or down. Arizona Christian and Vanguard are tied for sixth place and the final berth in the upcoming GSAC Tournament at 4-10. Menlo and San Diego Christian are one game behind Vanguard and Arizona Christian at 3-11 and are very much alive for a postseason berth.
 
Next week, the Warriors will wrap up the regular season with road games against Vanguard (Tuesday) and San Diego Christian (Saturday). Should Westmont win out, they will finish no worse than a three-way tie for second place. If Hope International should stumble in either of its final games at Menlo or William Jessup, the Warriors could finish in a four-way tie for first.
 
Biola and The Master's each have one game left to play. Biola will host San Diego Christian on Tuesday. The Master's will conclude the regular season at Vanguard on Saturday.
 
In two weeks, the Warriors will host the quarterfinals (Friday, March 3) and semifinals (Saturday, March 4) of the GSAC Tournament at Murchison Gymnasium.