By Jacob Norling
January 20, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Athletics is pleased to announce a celebration of the 1971-1972 Men's Basketball team on Saturday, February 4, 2023. The 1971-72 team is known in Westmont lore for being the final team in the career of the late great Tom Byron, who passed away on February 3, 1972 following a battle with cancer.
 
The following evening, Westmont was scheduled to host NCAA Div. I Hawaii in Murchison Gym, but the contest was widely considered to be cancelled following Byron's passing. Instead, the decision was made to play the game, with the thought of bringing together the mourning community as a tribute to Byron. On February 4, 1972, Westmont went toe-to-toe with Hawaii, who at the time, was the 14th-ranked team in Division I basketball.
 
At halftime the Warriors trailed by 11, but in one of the most famous halves in Westmont Athletics history, the Warriors rallied to take a nine point lead in the final minutes of the contest. Minutes later, the Warriors hung on to upset Hawaii 90-89, forever etching their name into Westmont history.
 
The club would go on to win the NAIA District 3 Championship, and make a run to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship. On February 4, 2023, 51 years to the day of the Hawaii game, the Westmont community will honor one of the greatest Westmont teams of all time.
 
The day will start with men's and women's basketball hosting Hope International in Murchison Gym, with the women tipping off at 2:00 p.m. and the men tipping off at 4:00 p.m. In a halftime ceremony during the men's contest, several members of the 1971-1972 men's basketball team will be honored.
 
Following the conclusion of the men's game, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a postgame reception will take place next door in Winter Hall. During the reception, the 1971-72 team will host a Q&A and discussion panel, where the group will converse about their historic campaign.
 
A tribute to Tom Byron and the 1971-72 team written by Don Volle, who witnessed the Hawaii game, is available on the Westmont Athletics site at athletics.westmont.edu/Byron.
 
All are welcome to attend the game and the postgame reception. For more information, email Jeff Azain at @jazain@westmont.edu.
 
Tickets to the games on Saturday, February 4, are available on the Westmont Athletics website.