By Jacob Norling
January 27, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) After a quadruple-overtime loss on Thursday night, Westmont (6-12) was unable to bounce back at home on Saturday, in an eventual 78-72 loss to the SAGU American Indian Warriors (12-8). An exhausted Westmont club led for less than 30 seconds during the contest, with the road team steadily remaining one-step ahead.
 
Another slow start offensively saw the club score just five points across the first seven minutes, which at that point led to 15-5 deficit. Zeke Viuhkola buried a 3-pointer just ahead of the second media timeout (11:13), and at that point the club had started to find an offensive rhythm down 19-12.
 
By the time of the next media timeout, however, Westmont's hot-and-cold trend continued while the road club repeatedly hit 3-pointers. Another Viuhkola three helped trim a half-high 15-point deficit, but still, with 7:53 remaining in the period, SAGU American Indian led 32-20.
 
With just-under five remaining in the half Anthony McIntyre hit another from three-point range, and this time, it got Westmont back within single-digits at 34-25. The lead continued to disappear for the road club, with a trio of layups by Jarrett Bryant and another by Amir Davis bringing Westmont within one (34-33) at the 2:13 mark.
 
By the halftime buzzer the road-Warriors held onto a 38-33 advantage, but Westmont's adjustments kept them within a pair of possessions. The road team came out hot once again in the second half, however, with Westmont falling down nine at 44-35 with 17:00 to play. Then, back-to-back 3-pointers by Viuhkola and Jarrett Bryant got Westmont back within three.
 
By the time of the next media stoppage with 11:29 remaining, the road team still maintained their advantage, this time by five at 51-46. At that point, while Westmont had gotten as close as one point, the home team still had not led. Things would only get worse for the next few minutes, as an 8-3 run by the road team forced Boucher to call timeout at the 8:24 mark. At that point, Westmont was once again trailing by double-digits at 59-49.
 
Right out the timeout another 3-pointer from Viuhkola breathed life into the club, with his fifth triple of the night making it a seven-point game. One possession later, Adrian McIntyre hit another from long-range, bringing Westmont back within four in the blink of an eye (7:19). Momentum continued to build moments later, when the younger McIntyre hit another three, this time making it a one-point game.
 
Finally, with 6:15 on the clock, Zeke's sixth 3-pointer of the night brought Westmont all the way back, capping off a 12-0 run to put the team up 61-59. Over the next few minutes however, SAGU American Indian out-scored Westmont 5-2, putting some pressure on the home team with the road-club leading by one (64-63) at the 3:42 mark.
 
The situation began to become dire moments later, when the road team landed another 3-pointer out of the break. Then, with 1:47 on the clock, time officially began to run out when another floater fell for SAGU, putting the road team up 71-65.
 
Anthony McIntyre converted a layup to pull Westmont within five, and then, after a turnover, converted one of two at the line to make it a 72-68 game with 57.3 seconds remaining. The dagger came with 22 seconds on the clock, however, when Westmont's 11th turnover led to free throws for SAGU.
 
When the horn blew, the road-Warriors skipped off the court after handing the Westmont Warriors a 78-72 loss.
 
Individually, Anthony McIntyre and Zeke Viuhkola each led the club with 18 points, while McIntyre also contributed with eight assists and seven rebounds.
 
The Warriors return to PacWest play on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., when they host Hawaii Pacific inside Murchison Gym. Links to tickets and live coverage are available on the Westmont Athletics website.