COSTA MESA, Calif. – Five Lions scored in double figures and the team shot 55 percent overall as Vanguard punished rival Westmont by a score of 99-75 in men's basketball action at The Pit Thursday.
The 99 points represented the most scored by Vanguard (7-4, 3-1 GSAC) in the 84-game all-time series against the Warriors. VU never trailed during the game.
Center Andre Allen (SR/Los Angeles, CA) had a huge game off the bench for Vanguard. In just 17 minutes, Allen notched his first career double-double as a Lion with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Jordan Caruso (JR/New York, NY) headed up the Super Subs with a season-best 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
The starting unit was equally effective, getting 16 points from Masie Mohammadi (SR/San Carlos, CA), 14 from Garrett White (SR/Post Falls, ID), and 11 more from Isaac Davis (SR/Valencia, CA). In addition, Davis handed out a career-best 13 assists on a night the Lions spread the love offensively from start to finish. The team registered season-highs of 25 assists and 39 baskets.
Davis is now tied for seventh in the country with 5.8 assists per game. His 13 assists is the second-highest single-game total in the NAIA this season.
The Lions were solid defensively in the first half, holding Westmont to 35.7 percent (10-of-28) shooting. Westmont heated up in the second stanza and shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32).
However, Vanguard torched the Warrior defense to the tune of 72.4 percent (21-of-29) shooting in the second half and held a double-digit lead for the final 31-plus minutes of the game.
Jalen Townsell led Westmont (9-2, 2-2) with 23 points off the bench.
What Happened?: Good starts usually mean good things for the Lions, and tonight was no different. Davis and White drained back-to-back threes for a 6-0 Vanguard lead. Allen and Caruso entered the game five minutes in and made an immediate impact, combining to score 13 straight points and turning an 6-2 lead into a 19-6 bulge with 11:56 to go.
Allen, who scored all 16 of his points in the first half, hit two free throws and made a layup to extend the Lion lead to 25-8 with 9:58 remaining.
The Lions pushed the advantage to as much as 25 points, 41-16, on a Caruso layup. The Warriors fought back to get within 43-27 on a Jared Brown three-pointer before the Lions went into intermission with a 45-28 lead.
Westmont's closest deficit in the second half was 11, as Townsell's triple made the score 54-43 with 16:06 to go.
The Lions held the Warriors scoreless for a four-minute stretch, and Caruso's dunk extended VU's advantage to 67-50 with 11:17 left in the game.
Nate Meithof's three-pointer got Westmont within 12 at 79-67. But the Lions scored on their next six straight possessions to put the game out of reach. Davis hit consecutive jumpers to give VU a 92-71 edge with 2:17 to go.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions moved into a tie for second in the GSAC standings at 3-1. They are 6-1 this season when leading at halftime. Vanguard also took advantage of miscues, turning 19 Westmont turnovers into 23 points.
What Was Said?: "Westmont is one of the best teams in the GSAC and in the country," said Head Coach Rhett Soliday. "They are tough, talented and together. It took everything we had to hold them off tonight in the second half, and we were fortunate to have a solid lead going into the last 20. Dre Allen was incredible tonight and set a tone for our approach offensively, which was to win the battle in the paint. Isaac did what he does and led the playmaking with 13 assists, and Caruso had a heck of a performance on his birthday leading us in scoring."
What's Next?: Vanguard continues GSAC competition with a road game Saturday against San Diego Christian. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m.
