By Jacob Norling
November 23, 2024
 
(NAMPA, Idaho.) Westmont Men's Basketball (1-4) fell one shot short of a perfect road trip on Saturday night when they fell 74-72 to the Central Washington Wildcats (3-2). It was an evenly matched contest through-and-through, but in the second half, the Wildcats did just enough to turn a six point halftime deficit into a two-point win.
 
Individually, Adrian McIntyre was once again spectacular, with the senior collecting 35 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Outside of McIntyre, however, Mason Romano was the only Warrior with more than six points to their name. Romano, who continues to be a difference-maker, had 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
 
Outside of those two seniors however, the Warriors shot just 32.3% from the field (10-31). While McIntyre was a perfect eight of eight from the free throw line as well, the rest of the Warriors were awarded only two other free throws all night. On the other end, Central Washington was 12 of 15 from the charity stripe, which included 13 attempts in the second half. On Westmont's end a huge blemish was the club's 17 turnovers, which led to 23 extra points for their opposition, who turned the ball over just nine times.
 
While Westmont led by six at halftime the Wildcats slowly chipped away, and took a two-possession advantage for the first time with 8:04 left in regulation (60-56). With 6:16 to play it looked as though Central Washington may be pulling away, with a pair of free throws putting the Cats up nine (67-58). However, back-to-back threes from Romano and McIntyre pulled Westmont back within one possession, keeping the game tight as it entered its final stretch.
 
Moments later, with just over three minutes remaining, Romano hit another three-ball, this time putting Westmont up 69-67.  Over the next two-and-half minutes, however, Westmont would concede a 6-0 run, putting the Warriors on the ropes with under a minute remaining (73-69).
 
With just 24 seconds remaining McIntyre converted both ends of an and-one to pull Westmont within one. Then, after the Cats went one of two from the free throw line, Westmont had a chance to tie or win it with 21 seconds remaining.
 
McIntyre missed a go-ahead three, followed by an offensive rebound from Drew Ramirez. Ramirez then tried his luck from beyond the arc, but was met with the same fate as McIntyre. The Warriors received one more offensive rebound, and this time McIntyre tried knocking down a contested floater just beneath the right elbow. Like the previous two looks, however, Westmont's third shot of the possession just would not fall, with time expiring as the ball ricocheted off the right-iron and fell to the floor.
 
Westmont returns to Santa Barbara for a contest against Simon Fraser on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. Links to tickets and live coverage are available on the Westmont Athletics website.