By Tim Heiduk
December 14, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The 11th ranked team in the NAIA picked up its 11th straight win to start the season, as Westmont men's basketball defeated Vanguard, 89-84, on Friday night.
 
"If you would've told me we'd start the season 11-0, I would've been absolutely shocked by that," said Westmont head coach John Moore. "Because of the newness, this team has really overachieved in many ways and will continue to because I think we're becoming more and more confident as a team. There's a lot of confidence out there."
 
Despite having a limited practice schedule this week because of final exams on campus, Westmont started five for five from 3-point range and took a 19-9 lead just over five minutes into the game.
 
"It was finals week, but we had three of the best practices this week," said Moore. "That tells you how mentally tough these guys are. They were willing to fight through the mental fatigue that comes with finals at Westmont. I'm really proud of how hard we practiced."
 
The Warriors extended their lead further after Gyse Hulsebosch became the fifth Warrior player to make a 3-pointer in the first half.
 
Westmont found itself with its largest lead of the game, 25-11, but Vanguard hung around and reduced the Warriors' advantage to five with 1:13 to go in the half. Westmont responded by closing the first half with four straight points, punctuated by an acrobatic and-one layup by Jared Brown.
 
The Warriors continued their momentum to start the second half, extending their lead to 50-36 after a Hunter Sipe three. Justin Bessard then got himself in on the 3-point shooting action, sinking a couple triples in quick succession.
 
Vanguard wouldn't go away though, as the Lions prevented the Warriors from running away with the game. The visitors got back to within eight with 9:51 remaining, only for Hulsebosch to complete a four-point play to put Westmont back ahead by double digits.
 
Consecutive 3-pointers from the Lions brought Vanguard within seven, but Brown responded with a corner three of his own to put the Warriors ahead, 78-68, with just over four minutes to play. Vanguard then went on an 8-0 run to get within two with 1:51 on the clock.
 
"I thought we were going to run away with it with a double-digit lead, but they never went away," said Moore. "That's the kind of team Rhett Soliday coaches."
 
Cade Roth, returning to the court for the first time since undergoing an appendectomy, stopped the bleeding with a reverse lay-in to put the Warriors up by four.
 
"It was so nice to have him back. He's a steadying influence," said Moore. "He's still trying to get his legs out from under him, but I thought that was as big of a play as there was in the game. He understands our offense well."
 
Two Abram Carrasco free throws increased the Warriors' lead to six, before Roth came up with his second steal of the game. Brown, Carrasco, and Roth then put the game on ice from the free throw line, helping Westmont hold on for the win.
 
"Bram (Carrasco) makes big plays. Jared Brown makes good plays," said Moore. "I thought Gyse (Hulsebosch) made some really important plays. That four-point play was a key. When you have really good guards like those three guards are, you're going to make some plays that are important because they are for the most part under control."
 
Westmont was in control of the turnover battle, committing eight fewer turnovers than Vanguard did. "12 turnovers against Vanguard is better than we normally do," said Moore. "We also had 18 assists – I love that."
 
The Warriors forced Vanguard into 13 first half turnovers, more than Westmont committed in the entire game, and 21 overall, four of which came off of charges drawn by Sipe.
 
"Hunter is really the key to our defense," said Moore. "He talks, he communicates. Hunter's special because of all the little things he does, like taking charges."
 
Sipe was also key to the Warriors' offense, as he was one of four Warriors to reach double digits in scoring.
 
On a night 11th ranked Westmont picked up its 11th win, the Warriors were led by #11 Carrasco, who paced the team with his 19 points and eight assists. Brown and Bessard each tallied 16 points, while Sipe was next with 12.
 
Westmont next hosts Antelope Valley on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. before playing in the 44th annual Tom Byron Classic on Dec. 30 and 31.