By Jacob Norling
January 25, 2024

(FRESNO, Calif.) In an absolute marathon the Westmont Men's Basketball (7-10, 3-8 PacWest) team was one point shy in quadruple-overtime against the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (5-12, 4-6). Both teams had chances to win the game several times, with three different game-saving three-pointers extending the contest.

Ultimately, the Sunbirds prevailed in the fourth extra-period, leaving Westmont with a gut-wrenching 95-94 loss.

Things did not start promising for Westmont, with the Warriors scoring only six points across the first seven-and-a-half minutes of play. Luckily for Westmont, however, while FPU shot more effectively from the field early on, the Sunbirds also gave the ball away on six occasions by the time of the second media stoppage (11:40). 
 
Right at the nine-minute mark in the first half Zeke Viuhkola buried a jump shot from the free throw line to draw things at 13. In a half where offense came at a premium, however, the Warriors went almost three minutes without another basket.

Westmont temporarily led at the 5:45 mark, when Jarrett Bryant buried a three-ball, but by the final media stoppage of the half the low-scoring contest was tied up again at 20 apiece. Both sides showed a bit of an offensive burst in the closing minutes, but at the end of the half, it was Westmont leading 27-26 despite a slow start. 
 
Individually, the most notable performance of the first half was that of Aaron Wadman, who led all scorers with seven points on three of four shooting.
 
At the first media timeout in the second half the lead continued to swap sides, with FPU slightly out-pacing Westmont to a 35-34 advantage (15:54).
 
By the time the game entered its final 12 minutes, however, FPU had gone on an 8-0 run, flipping the script to take a 43-39 lead. At that point, foul trouble began to catch up with Westmont, as Bryant was sent to sit with the fouls and Jalen Townsell was forced to the bench with three.
 
Townsell was able to check back in just before the penultimate media timeout (7:36), and was able to muscle his way through contact to finish at the rim. At that point, after the 16th lead change in the contest, Westmont led 48-47. A minute later, Townsell was left open again to put Westmont up three (50-47). Moments later, following FPU's 20th turnover, Townsell continued his surge with a third layup in a row. With 5:30 remaining, Westmont led by a game-high five at 52-47.
 
The back-and-forth trend continued, however, with the Sunbirds tying it once again at 54 with 3:45 on the clock. Adrian McIntyre then took matters into his own hands over the next minute, with four points from the younger brother putting Westmont up 58-54 with under three to play.
 
Still, as the game entered its final minute, FPU refused to go away, pulling back within one. Then, after Anthony McIntyre converted a layup to put the club back up three, the Sunbirds quickly drilled a game-tying 3-pointer. 
Neither side could penetrate the basket in the final thirty seconds, sending the game to overtime tied at 61.
 
Anthony McIntyre drew first blood fifteen seconds into overtime, converting an acrobatic layup to put Westmont up two. FPU would not put points on the board until the 1:36 mark, when a pair of free throws pulled the home team back within one (64-63).
 
With 26 seconds remaining the home team got the ball back with a chance to take the lead. FPU waited to drive until the final five seconds, and with the game on the line, Amir Davis met the shooter halfway, leaped, and rejected the potential game-winner. The eldest McIntyre hit a pair of free throws with 4.2 seconds remaining, but yet again, a desperation bank-shot three fell for FPU on the other end, sending the game to a second overtime knotted at 66.
 
In double-OT, the two sides traded baskets to a 68-68 tie, before FPU converted a couple free throws to go up 70-68 (2:45). A minute later, Davis once again forced his way inside to tie it again at 70.
 
Once again, the Warriors sent the birds to the charity stripe, where they reclaimed a 71-70 advantage. Down one with 24 seconds to play Westmont committed its 21st turnover of the night, and it led to more FPU free throws. Westmont would get the ball back down 73-70, and this time, it was Anthony McIntyre's turn to hit a game-saving three-ball. 
 
McIntyre's shot fell with just three seconds remaining on the clock, giving FPU just enough time to draw up a prayer. Once again, however, the buzzer would sound with the game still tied, sending the teams to a third overtime knotted at 73.
 
In triple-OT Davis struck first with an immediate layup, allowing Westmont to keep momentum for a moment. On their very next possession, Anthony came up clutch again, this time, converting both ends of an and-one. At that point, Westmont had its largest lead of overtime at 78-73.
 
FPU would score to pull within a possession, but McIntyre once again answered with a layup to keep Westmont rolling. Then, with 2:15 remaining, it was the younger McIntyre's turn, as Adrian knocked down a jumper to put Westmont up six (82-76.)
 
Still, FPU continued to claw back, making it a one-point game with 10 seconds to go. Westmont would get one of two from the line, giving FPU one final look. The night continued to be cruel to the Warriors in its final seconds of triple overtime, when an FPU shooter was awarded a trio of free throws. The first shot rimmed out, providing hope that the marathon would end, but FPU's shooter knocked down the remaining pair, trying it at 86, and sending it to quadruple overtime.
 
On the very first possession of the fourth overtime, Adrian McIntyre landed a three-ball giving Westmont an early advantage again. In inevitable fashion, however, another game-tying three-pointer from the Sunbirds knotted things at 89. At the 1:58 point Anthony McIntyre went to the line and earned his 33rd point of the night, putting Westmont up 90-89. Back and forth they'd continue to go, however, with another layup giving FPU the lead. Westmont could not get a pair of free throws to fall with 1:07 to play, leading to free throws on the other end for the Sunbirds.
 
At the stripe, the Sunbirds would get both to fall to make it a 93-90 game in the final minute. Anthony kept Westmont within striking distance on the other end, making another pair of free throws to pull Westmont within one. On the other end, however, the Sunbirds converted another short-range shot to put the club up three.
 
The Warriors found McIntyre in the near corner for a three-point attempt, but strong defense from FPU resulted in a blocked shot. Amir Davis directed the ricochet into the basket, but well inside the arc as the buzzer rang. In an instant classic, the Warriors were left with a heart-breaking 95-94 loss in their longest game of the 21st century.
 
Individually, Anthony McIntyre led all scorers with 35 points on 11 of 15 shooting, while Adrian contributed with 18 points as well.
 
Westmont has less than 48 hours to attempt to recover physically before they host SAGU American Indian in Santa Barbara. Links to tickets and live coverage are available on the Westmont Athletics website.