By Jacob Norling
January 13, 2024
 
(IRVINE, Calif.) Westmont Men's Basketball (5-10, 2-7 PacWest) played 30 strong minutes against the Concordia Golden Eagles (9-6, 6-3) on Saturday night, but across the final 10 minutes of action CUI took control in an eventual 69-62 loss for Westmont. The Warriors led by five points as the game entered its final ten minutes, but when the Warriors could muster only four points across a pivotal eight-minute stretch, the Golden Eagles took control and never looked back.
 
Both teams came out of the gate hot in an apparent shootout on Saturday night, with both squads shooting above 50% for the first 13 minutes of action. At the seven-minute mark in the first half, the Warriors were feeling good about themselves offensively, making 10 of their first 18 shots from the field.
 
On the other end, however, CUI was shooting about 60% from the field, highlighted by four 3-pointers early on. Coming out of a media timeout at the seven-minute mark CUI led 27-24, and following the timeout, Westmont could muster only eight points for the remainder of the period. The Golden Eagles didn't fare too much better, but the home team did extend their advantage to six points by the time of intermission (38-32).
 
At the half, CUI was out-rebounding Westmont 19-13, and had out-shot the Warriors from three-point range 5-2. A bright spot for Westmont in the first half was the return of Aaron Wadman, who had been unavailable for the Warriors since the middle of November. Off the bench, Wadman contributed with four points, two boards, and an assist in the first half.
 
Wadman was one of three Warriors who had scored more than one basket by halftime, with Anthony McIntyre (11 points), and Mason Romano (10 points) joining him.
 
For nearly five minutes out of the break the Golden Eagles kept their distance, but quickly Westmont's growing success on defense led to several baskets for the Warriors in transition. Four minutes into the second half a block led to an electrifying dunk in transition by Romano. Then, on the very next possession, an acrobatic layup by Adrian McIntyre gave the Warriors their first lead of the night at 42-41 (15:20).
 
Westmont took their biggest lead yet at the 10:15 mark, when Adrian McIntyre drilled a shot from beyond the arc (53-48). Following the make, however, Westmont went nearly four minutes without a basket, allowing a 10-point surge from Concordia that flipped the score 58-53 with 6:45 remaining.
 
Entering a timeout at the 4:30 mark, Westmont had converted only their second basket in six minutes, but still, the Warriors found themselves trailing by only three points (60-57). Ninety seconds later the clubs entered another timeout, and by that point, the lead continued to grow for the Golden Eagles who led 62-57. Out of the stoppage, Westmont immediately gave the ball away, and immediately committed a foul in transition.
 
At the free throw line, CUI converted a pair of shots to put the home team up 64-57, pulling the finish line in sight with under three minutes to play. Since McIntyre's three that put Westmont up 53-48, the Warriors had been out-scored 16-4 across eight minutes of action.
 
Over the final two minutes the Golden Eagles put the game on ice at the free throw line, in what turned out to be a 69-62 win for Concordia.
 
At night's end both sides converted 25 shots from the field, but the Warriors made only three of 16 from 3-point land, while Concordia converted six shots from beyond the arc. Concordia also made 13 of 18 from the free throw line, while Westmont made nine of 14.
 
Individually, Romano's finest night of the season resulted in 16 points on a perfect seven of seven from the field. Romano converted two of Westmont's three triples, and also ended the night with six rebounds.
 
Westmont returns to action on Saturday, January 20, when the club's road trip continues against Biola. Tip-off in La Mirada is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and links to live coverage will be available on the Westmont Athletics website.