By Tim Heiduk
December 31, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) What a year 2019 was for the Westmont men's basketball program. In March, the Warriors made their fifth consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearance, the longest streak in program history. Then the 2019-20 team finished the memorable calendar year 14-0, capping off the decade by defeating Park (Ariz.), 90-79, on Day Two of the 44th Annual Tom Byron Classic.
 
"It was a very good year and this team has been one of the wonderful surprises of the new year," said Westmont head coach John Moore. "I know they're almost two separate basketball years, finishing off with a different team back in Kansas City and then coming into the new year with a lot of question marks.
 
"To see how these guys have molded and blended so well together in a short period of time is a great indication of sacrifice and their willingness to be unselfish. This team has been very unselfish and I think the unselfishness has paid off in our 14-0 start to the season."
 
Westmont only trailed once in the first half, when the score was 5-4 in favor of Park just 30 seconds into the game. The Warriors seized control soon thereafter, leading by as many as 14, 31-17, with 9:12 left in the half.
 
Park worked its way back though, getting to within three points as Westmont took a 45-42 lead into the locker room. For a moment it looked like the Warriors would only have a one-point halftime advantage after the Buccaneers tipped in a missed shot at the halftime buzzer, but upon replay review, the basket was disallowed.
 
"I didn't think we played particularly well," said Moore about his team in the first half. "I don't think we coached a very good half. I don't think we played a very good half. We gave a team that is capable a lot of confidence and they executed well."
 
It was the Abram Carrasco and Justin Bessard show in the early going, as the former Pima Community College teammates combined for two-thirds of Westmont's points in the first half with Carrasco's 17 and Bessard's 13.
 
"The Pima connection really played well today," said Moore. "Bram (Carrasco) especially was superb in the first half. He had nine of our first 14 points and really was outstanding."
 
Hunter Sipe got the Warriors going at the beginning of the second half with a lay-in and a corner three. Park got as close as two points after answering Sipe's triple with a layup, but a 9-0 Westmont run restored the Warriors' double-digit lead, 59-48.
 
"In the second half our defense was much better," said Moore. "That 9-0 run boosted our confidence back up to where it's been."
 
The Buccaneers hung around but the Warriors maintained their advantage by no fewer than five points, as Westmont won by 11.
 
For the game, the Warriors shot an even 50% from the field, including 57.1% in the second half. Westmont shot 31 free throws, converting 23 of them (74.2%), while only sending Park to the line 12 times (66.7%). The Warriors recorded 22 assists compared to only nine turnovers.
 
Westmont was led in scoring by Carrasco (26 points) and Bessard (23 points). Sipe (15 points) and Roth (10 points) also scored in double figures, as Carrasco, Sipe, and Roth reached double digits in both games of the 44th Annual Tom Byron Classic.
 
Bessard just missed out on a double-double with his nine rebounds, while Carrasco and Roth tallied eight and seven assists respectively.
 
Carrasco was named Tournament MVP, while Sipe and Bessard were also named to the All-Tournament Team. Tim Soares (The Master's), Darryl McDowell-White (The Master's), and Brett Layton (Calgary) were the other All-Tournament Team selections.
 
Westmont will begin the new year on Thursday against crosstown foe and NCAA Division I UC Santa Barbara, who have won nine of its past 10 games. Tip-off in the Thunderdome is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
 
"It's always a fun rivalry," said Moore. "We need to do what men's soccer does with the Bryant & Sons Cup. We need to have something along those lines, just to make it special every year. We'd love to play them every single year and I think we should. It's great for the community."

44th Annual Tom Byron Classic All-Tournament Team

• Abram Carrasco (Westmont) - MVP
• Tim Soares (The Master's)
• Darryl McDowell-White (The Master's)
• Justin Bessard (Westmont)
• Brett Layton (Calgary)
• Hunter Sipe (Westmont)