By Ron Smith
February 7, 2021
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Ajay Singh poured in 28 points to help lead Westmont Men's Basketball (3-2) to a 90-84 win over the Red Hawks of Simpson (1-5) on Saturday afternoon in Murchison Gymnasium.
 
The game was more tightly contested than the previous evening when the Warriors posted a 106-78 victory over the Red Hawks and set a program record by making 19 field goals from three-point range. Westmont connected for 15 threes in Saturday's game, resulting in a two-game series total of 34.
 
"I am thankful to be in a close game where we came out on the winning side before we went into league. We've been to overtime and we have lost a close game to Concordia. We lost a close game to Saint Katherine and won big and now we have won a close game going into conference play.
 
"Our team had 27 assists last night and 22 tonight. The team is really unselfish and we are finding good shots. The successful 3-point shooting shows that when we move the ball we are finding open shots. The threes are easier threes because we are open."
 
Just five minutes into the game, Westmont had already recorded four 3-pointers from four different players, but the Red Hawks had kept pace and trailed by just four points (14-10).
 
After a layup by Simpson's Mason Johnson brought the Red Hawks within two, Westmont produced a 9-0 run to go up 23-12. However, over the next eight minutes, Simpson battled back to take the lead 31-30 on a pair of free throws by Dylan Banks.
 
The Red Hawks' lead proved to be fleeting, but the difference on the scoreboard remained in single digits for nearly the rest of the contest.
 
Emerging from the halftime locker room trailing 40-35, Simpson's JT Branch slammed down a dunk and Johnson sank two free throws to make the score 40-39. While that was the closest the Red Hawks would get, the second half was played with the Warriors battling to keep ahead of Simpson.
 
With just under 12 minutes remaining, another dunk by Branch cut Westmont's advantage to 55-51. That's when, on consecutive possessions, Cade Roth took the ball toward the basket before kicking it out to the perimeter for a three from Singh.
 
"Ajay was instrumental down the stretch for us offensively," observed Boucher. "We had gotten in an offensive lull and he found open areas (of the court) and his teammates found him in those open areas. He hit shots when the game was getting tight and you could feel the pressure building up. Throughout that pressure, he remained calm and was able to zone in and hit some big baskets for us.
 
"Cade had eight assists in both games this weekend. He sees the floor really well. He has been doing a good job of taking the shots he needs to take, but also finding the open man and finding the shooters in the right situations."
 
When Simpson came within three (73-70) with just under five minutes to play, the Warriors responded yet again with a pair of free throws from Singh and a 3-point bucket by Sipe. Over the final four minutes, Westmont maintained at least a six-point lead as a Red Hawks' offensive efforts fell short.
 
In addition to Singh, four other Warriors scored in double figures. Abram Carrasco netted 12 points, Roth and Jarred Brown each added 11 and Gyse Hulsebosch tallied 10. Roth, Sipe and Hulsebosch each knocked down three 3-pointers.
 
"Gyse had a great series against Simpson," noted Boucher. "He hit a big three down the stretch that probably felt like more than three-points worth to the other team. He lit them up so bad last night, so they were likely emphasizing not letting him shoot."
 
Next week, Westmont will begin Golden State Athletic Conference play when it takes on Vanguard three times.
 
"Before COVID, it was unheard of to play a team three times in one week. It is the norm, now, to at least play back-to-back," reflected Bourcher.
 
The Warriors will travel to Costa Mesa for the first game on Tuesday. Then on Friday and Saturday, Westmont will host the Lions at Murchison Gym. All three games are scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
 
State and county mandates for intercollegiate play prohibit spectators from attending the game. However, Warrior fans can follow the action at https://athletics.westmont.edu/video or on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku.