By Jacob Norling
November 26, 2024
 
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) Westmont Men's Basketball (1-5) led for nearly 30 minutes before ever trailing on Tuesday night, but at the end of 40 minutes, it was the Simon Fraser Red Leafs (4-5) who left Santa Barbara with a 78-73 win. The Warriors, as they have several times this season, never stopped fighting through an uphill battle in which they trailed by as many as 15 in the final minutes.
 
Games like these, however, continue to leave a frustrated Westmont club still searching for a night where their efforts are rewarded.
 
While Westmont led all the way up to the 10:45 mark in the second half, the Warriors had their chances to put some distance between themselves and SFU earlier. After all, the Red Leafs shot only 31.25% in the first half (10-32), and made just one of their first 10 three-point attempts. Westmont led by as many as 10 in the first half, but after an Adrian McIntyre layup with 5:05 to go, the Warriors made only one more shot for the rest of the period.
 
SFU's first three-point attempt of the second would fall, and it would open the floodgates in a half where they shot five of seven from three, and 60% from the field (15-25). The Warriors were hot-and-cold throughout the night, but their largest cold-streak spelled doom for the club following a 45-45 tie with 10 minutes remaining. Westmont would score only four points over a near-six minute span, leaving the Warriors to look up at a 64-49 deficit with 4:30 to play.
 
Again, though, this Westmont team continued to roll with the punches, and gave themselves a chance in the closing moments of a game. Three's from Baron Bellamy and Will Smith III sparked a hint of belief, before two more from McIntyre and Drew Ramirez made things awfully interesting. The hype peaked with nine seconds to play, with Westmont trailing by only three after an SFU trip to the free throw line.
 
It was clear, however, that the Red Leafs had no intention of letting the Warriors attempt to tie the game. When an inbound found the hands of one of Westmont's big men, the Red Leafs swarmed the Warrior with the intention of sending him to the free throw line. Trying to avoid this, Westmont's player attempted to hurry a pass down the floor. Unfortunately for the Warriors, this pass could not find its way beyond the reach of an oncoming SFU player, who all but ended the game with a clean steal.
 
Moments, later, after another set of SFU free throws, the Red Leafs walked off the floor with the 78-73 win.
 
Individually for Westmont, Adrian McIntyre led the way with 19 points, while Drew Ramirez added in 17 of his own. De'Undrae Perteete also enjoyed his finest offensive night of the season, as the first-year collected 14 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists. Mason Romano led the Warriors with nine rebounds and six assists, while the senior also contributed with seven points.
 
The Warriors will have a brief pause for Thanksgiving before a tune-up against Life Pacific on Saturday in Santa Barbara. PacWest play will begin on December 5, when the Warriors head up to play Fresno Pacific.