COSTA MESA – The Vanguard men's basketball team dominated in all facets to conclude the Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, demolishing La Sierra 108-57 at Orange Coast College.
The 51-point rout marked the program's largest margin of victory since defeating Westcliff by 58, 121-63, on Dec. 12, 2017.
The Lions shot 60.3 percent from the floor, making 44 of 73 attempts for the eighth-best single-game field goal percentage in program history. VU also connected on 10-of-20 from three-point territory and made 10-of-12 free throws.
Garrett White (SR/Post Falls, ID) scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the first half as VU staked claim to a 20-point lead at halftime. He finished 9-of-16 from the field, hitting a pair of threes and sinking all four free throw attempts.
Jackson Larsen (JR/El Cajon, CA) posted a career-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting while adding four rebounds and a steal. Phillip Willis (SR/San Diego, CA) drained three treys en route to 13 points and handed out five assists.
Preston Sims (JR/Orange, CA) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Lions with 12 points. He made 5-of-6 shots, including a pair of three-pointers. Isaac Davis (SR/Valencia, CA) contributed eight points, eight assists, four rebounds and a steal.
The VU bench outscored La Sierra's 31-12. Twelve different Lions got into the scoring column.
VU's relentless defensive pressure forced 18 Golden Eagle turnovers, which the Lions converted into 33 points.
Weston McKenney led La Sierra with 13 points, followed by 11 from D'Lano Beckles. Brandhon Thomas and Luke Alviar each had 10 points.
The Lions moved to 3-2, while the Golden Eagles fell to 0-7.
What Happened?: The Lions pounced on the Golden Eagles from the tip, holding their opponent to one basket over the first nine minutes and building a 21-2 lead. Six different Lions got buckets amidst the onslaught and the team hit eight of its first 10 shots.
Uriel Lejtman's bucket reduced La Sierra's deficit to 25-10 with 8:35 remaining in the first half, but White scored 10 straight points as the Lions opened up a 33-10 lead.
White drew a foul on Lejtman, converting the traditional three-point play to put VU up 41-17 at the 2:50 mark. White knocked down another jumper for his 20th point with 38 ticks left, and VU went into halftime leading 45-25.
The Lions showed no mercy in the second half. Larsen went to work, scoring nine points over a two and a half minute span as VU expanded the lead to 65-37 with 15:25 to go.
The VU bench got involved as baskets from Jacob Brown (JR/El Dorado Hills, CA), Bryson Metz (FR/Vancouver, WA), Mitchell Prevost (JR/Tuolumne, CA) and Kody Knox (SR/Porter Ranch, CA) contributed to a 14-2 run and 79-39 lead. Prevost made three straight layups to help the Lions create the 40-point cushion.
VU's starters returned to the game shortly thereafter, with the combo of Willis, Davis and Larsen hitting five straight shots. White followed with two free throws as the Lions now led 92-42.
Larsen's jumper sent VU over the 100-point plateau with four minutes remaining, and Timothy Bahadoor (JR/Newport Beach, CA) scored his first career collegiate points on a layup to give VU its final 108-point tally.
The Lions improved to 10-1 all-time against La Sierra.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions have shot 55 percent or better in their three wins, and under 40 percent in their two losses.
What Was Said?: "I'm proud of our bounce back tonight as our guys showed the kind of hunger and edge that a winning team must have," said Head Coach Rhett Soliday. "Any time we share the ball the way we did tonight and play with the pass first, it typically leads to success at the offensive end. However, what our guys are beginning to really embrace is that before our offense starts clicking, it always has come from a great team defensive effort. The guys were committed and tethered together at the defensive end and that was the difference."
What's Next?: VU returns to Golden State Athletic Conference play with a pair of road games in Northern California. The Lions start the roadtrip next Thursday at No. 15 William Jessup with a 7:30 p.m. tip.
