By Tim Heiduk
November 6, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The Westmont men's basketball team completed a perfect three-game home stand to begin the season, defeating Yellowstone Christian (Mont.) 102-63 on Wednesday night. It was the second time in three games the Warriors have hit triple digits on the scoreboard.
 
Yellowstone Christian scored the first basket of the game and held the lead for a mere 15 seconds before Hunter Sipe's 3-point play gave Westmont a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Justin Bessard then scored the next six points for the Warriors to help overcome a hot start from Yellowstone Christian's Chris Pendley, who scored the Centurions' first 10 points.
 
"I thought Yellowstone Christian played really well for a good part of the first half," said Moore. "I thought they executed well and played within themselves. I thought we played a little bit unlike ourselves in parts of the first half, but I thought as we got into the last five minutes or so of the first half, we went back to who we are."
 
With the score 11-10, the Warriors got the 3-point shot going, first with Gyse Hulsebosch, who drained a triple moments after subbing in. Two Cade Roth 3-pointers extended Westmont's lead to double digits, 24-12.
 
The Warriors held a double-digit lead the rest of the way, taking a 52-29 lead into halftime, fueled by seven of 11 shooting from 3-point range in the first half. Hulsebosch was a perfect three for three from downtown and scored all 11 of his points before the break. Roth and Abram Carrasco also reached double figures in the first half, scoring 10 points apiece.
 
Westmont continued its prolific 3-point shooting by starting the second half four for five from deep. Carrasco drained a three from the wing to open the Warriors' second half scoring before Sipe knocked one down from the opposite wing a minute later.
 
Yellowstone Christian began the half three of six from 3-point range to keep pace with the Warriors, but Sipe's corner 3 with 15:16 on the clock helped Westmont begin separating itself even further.
 
The Warriors continued to shoot efficiently from the field the rest of the game, outscoring the Centurions 50 to 34 in the second half. The team shot 65.5% from the field, including 11 of 18 (61.1%) from 3-point range and 19 of 22 (86.4%) from the free-throw line. Defensively, Westmont limited its opponents to 63 points, the lowest scoring output the team has allowed so far this season.
 
"I thought in the second half our rebounding improved," said Moore, whose team outrebounded the opposition 38 to 28, including 24 to 15 in the second half. "Overall, I thought we played much better defense in the second half.
 
"Our guys, even in shoot around today, were very prepared for the mental side of tonight's game."
 
Six different Warriors scored in double figures, led by Carrasco's 21. The junior guard, in his first season at Westmont after transferring from Pima Community College, shot seven of 11 (four of six 3-pt.) from the field and also contributed six assists.
 
"I thought Bram (Carrasco) had his best game in a Warrior uniform," said Moore. "He's that kind of shooter, but he hasn't been shooting it that well in practice or in game situations, so it was really nice to see him make his free throws and shoot as well as he did from the 3-point line. He had six assists and only two turnovers. He really made some great things happen for us."
 
Others in double figures included Bessard (16), Sipe (15), Roth (12), Hulsebosch (11), and Noah Fernando (11).
 
"I thought Justin Bessard did some outstanding things for us by shooting 70% from the field and making sure we had an inside presence," said Moore.
 
Roth finished one rebound shy of his second straight double-double. The sophomore has recorded at least nine rebounds in every game so far this season.
 
After opening the new campaign with three home games, Westmont (3-0) now hits the road this Saturday to take on La Sierra (1-2) in Riverside at 7:00 p.m.
 
"We've had two scrimmages and three games at home, so we've had five straight times where we've worn our home uniforms, so it's going to be very different on Saturday night against La Sierra," said Moore. "They've beaten one of our league teams already in Life Pacific. I know they're athletic and are very capable scorers, so it'll be nice to get on the road and see how we do on somebody else's court."