By Jacob Norling
February 24, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Men's Basketball (10-16, 6-12 PacWest) could not get the defensive stops needed to hang with the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans (17-11, 11-8) on Saturday night, as the road team came into Murchison Gym and left with an 83-72 win. Westmont trailed by double-digits at halftime, but in the second half, Westmont continuously chipped away to stay within a pair of possessions. Still, Westmont could not quite get over the hump in an eventual 83-72 loss.
 
Westmont's offense had to revert to plan B awfully early on Saturday, as Anthony McIntyre was forced to the bench with two fouls before the game's second media timeout. Once that second media stoppage did occur, the Warriors found themselves trailing 16-11, having shot just four of 12 from the field, which included four misses from three-point range.
 
By the time of the next media stoppage (7:41), Westmont's shooting percentage remained in the mid-30's, while Hilo was shooting an even 60% to a 25-17 lead. Four minutes later Westmont's luck hadn't gotten much better, with the Vulcans stretching their lead to 35-26 by the final media timeout of the half (3:37).
 
With 2:47 left the lead expanded the double-figures for Hilo, when Carlos Ramsey Jr. converted both ends of an and-one (38-26). Westmont trailed by 15 at one point, but a last-minute 3-pointer by Jalen Townsell allowed Westmont to limit the damage to a 12-point halftime deficit (41-29).
 
At halftime, Ramsey had 17 points already, while the McIntyre brothers were held to a combined six points on two of 11 shooting.
 
By the time of the first media stoppage in the second, Hilo was still shooting over 50% as a team (17-32), making it tough for Westmont to cut into the 14-point deficit (49-35). At that point, Hilo had just connected on their fourth make from three-point range, while Westmont had just shot two of 11 from beyond the arc.
 
With 13:31 to play, Anthony McIntyre was forced to the bench once again with four fouls, and at that point, Hilo maintained a 14-point advantage (52-38). Two minutes later, however, a bit of hope began to build for Westmont, when Zeke Viuhkola buried a shot from three. Zeke's three pulled Westmont within 10, but on the very next possession for Hilo, the Vulcans finished off an acrobatic and-one to quiet the home crowd.
 
Still, Westmont refused to go away too quietly, with a three from Adrian McIntyre and a basket from Jalen Townsell pulling the Warriors within eight (65-48) with 8:30 to play. The noise continued to grow inside The Murch at the 8:15-mark, when Adrian converted both ends of an and-one to make it a two possession game (57-51).
 
With 6:06 to play Adrian McIntyre continued to try and get the Warriors back in it, when he knocked down another shot from three-point range to make it 59-54.
 
At the four-minute mark Zoar Nedd began to take the wind out of Westmont's sails, however, when the Vulcan buried a three-pointer to make it a nine-point deficit. Westmont got three points back a possession later, only for Ramsey to make another basket at the rim.
 
Offensively, the Warriors did a lot to get themselves back in it, but with three minutes to go down 71-63, Ramsey had 27 points and the Vulcans continued to get open looks. Townsell hit a pair from the line to get Westmont back within a couple possessions, only for Ramsey to once again finish at the basket.
 
After a stop by the Vulcans on the other end, Ramsey put the finishing touches on Hilo's win by earning his 29th and 30th points at the free throw line. At that point, with just under two minutes remaining, Hilo's lead had expanded to double digits. For good measure, Ramsey hit a shot from beyond the arc a possession later, adding insult to injury for the Warriors.
 
Moments later, the Vulcans walked off the court with an 83-72 win.
 
Individually for Westmont, both Adrian McIntyre and Jalen Townsell dropped in 17 points, while Jarrett Bryant joined them in double-figures with 10 points. Bryant also led Westmont with seven rebounds, while Amir Davis led the Warriors with six assists. Viuhkola also had double-digits, as the sophomore scored 14 on six of 10 shooting.
 
Free throw shooting was once again a problem for the Warriors, who made just nine of 18 from the charity stripe. On the other end, Hilo got to the line 33 times, with the Vulcans converting 23 of the shots.
 
The men return to action on Wednesday night for their penultimate game of the season. At 7:30 p.m., inside The Murch, the Warriors will host Fresno Pacific. Links to tickets and live coverage are available on the Westmont Athletics website.