By Jacob Norling
February 26, 2026
 
(AZUSA, Calif.) After defeating Azusa Pacific (7-19, 5-16 PacWest) on Thursday night down south, the Westmont Men's Basketball team (17-10, 14-7) has officially clinched a PacWest Tournament berth, the two-seed in the conference, and a first round bye in next week's conference tournament.
 
After Saturday's regular season finale, Westmont's next game will be the PacWest Tournament Semifinals next weekend in San Diego.
 
Head coach Justin Leslie was asked if that bit of news was gratifying, and said, "It is. We knew we were going to have to be at least a top-three team in this conference to give ourselves a shot at the NCAA Tournament, and we know there is still a lot of work to do, but this was always our goal. To achieve that certainly does feel very good.
 
"I'm just proud of the guys for staying the course, and doing what it takes to come out here and be a really good team for 22 basketball games. This team has done a nice job of staying the course and being consistent, and it is that consistency that's allowed us to have the separation to earn this two-seed."
 
On Wednesday, Westmont won it by a score of 83-76, with a tight-knit affair going Westmont's way in the second half after the two sides were separated by a single point after 20 minutes.
 
"I'm just proud of the effort tonight," said Leslie. "We withstood a pretty gritty performance from them in terms of just making shots. They had some guys step up that normally don't, and you have to give them credit for keeping them within striking distance.
 
"We just kept responding. Mid-late first half we went up seven, and then had two poor defensive possessions that gave them six points to close the gap before halftime. I told the team that we were going to get multiple opportunities like that in the second half, and when we make that push, that's when we have to lock in and create that separation.
 
"I was proud that when that moment came, we just kept responding."
 
The standout in Thursday night's box score was senior Jarrett Bryant, who dropped 29 points on the Cougars' Hamlow Court.
 
"I told him at halftime," began Leslie, "that we needed him. 'We need you. For us to be good, you have to be good'. He went out there in the second half and just would not take no for an answer. He just kept putting pressure on them, and it was just a really good performance for him in the second half.
 
"I was awfully proud of him, that's for sure."
 
Westmont will take on Point Loma, the PacWest's official one-seed, on Saturday in San Diego to wrap up the regular season. It could, perhaps, be a preview of the PacWest Championship.