IRVINE, Calif. – Vanguard men's basketball took a break from conference action Tuesday night to take on Westcliff. The Warriors might be off to a slow start to their season, but they pushed the Lions when it counted, as the hosts erased multiple leads during the second half. Westcliff was down by two points with seconds remaining, but the Blue and Gold were able to make the defensive stand to secure an 82-80 victory. The win puts Vanguard at 4-4 on the season and drops Westcliff to 1-4.
What Happened? The Lions got on the board off a triple by Phillip Willis (SR/San Diego, CA), who then added in two free throws a short time later to collect the first five points for VU. Vanguard would take a couple of two-point leads through the opening minutes, but Westcliff would equalize three times. A layup for Jacob Brown (JR/El Dorado Hills, CA) just past the 15-minute mark put VU ahead 13-11, and a 5-1 stretch after that handed the Lions a multiple-possession lead. Kody Knox (SR/Porter Ranch, CA) converted a three-pointer and a layup to increase the advantage to 23-14, with Garrett White (SR/Post Falls, ID) making a layup to make it 29-19 just past the eight-minute mark of the first half. The Warriors then made their first determined effort to get back into the contest, slicing the lead to 34-30 four minutes later. Willis and Mitchell Prevost (JR/Tuolumne, CA) would help restore a 10-point gap at 40-30 with two minutes left in the frame, as both made short jumpers. However, a three from Westcliff with 35 seconds to go would be the final word in the half, as the Lions took a 40-33 lead into the locker room.
Vanguard shot 53.6% in the first half from the floor, 50% from beyond the arc, and 85.7% from the free throw line. The Warriors shot 46.7% from the floor in the half but only 22.2% from deep.
VU began the second period with four points from White and a layup from Jackson Larsen (JR/El Cajon, CA). Another bucket for Larsen at the 17-minute mark and two free throws from Preston Sims (JR/Orange, CA) about a minute later would give the Lions a 12-point lead, the largest of the night. Westcliff responded to the large hole by putting up a 10-4 run to make the score 54-48 with 13 minutes to go. The lead was eventually chiseled away to just two points on a Warrior layup at the 7:50 mark, as the Lions struggled to hold them back. Westcliff then took its first lead of the game since the opening minutes of the contest off of free throws with six minutes to go, putting the home side in a prime position to start running away with the contest. But the Lions also strengthened their resolve, with Knox burying a three the next time down the court to put VU back in front.
In control of the scoreboard again, Vanguard would slowly pound the paint, reestablishing a multi-point lead at 73-66. Willis would make the score 75-66 with three minutes to go on another jumper, but things would not remain rosy. The Warriors brought the gap down to 75-72 with 90 seconds to go off a pair of free throws, capping a 6-0 run. White would respond at the other end as Westcliff played the foul game, but the hosts would stay close with two more made free throws as the clock went under a minute to go. The Lions ran through their offense and Willis stepped up to nail a three to make it 80-74, but Westcliff drilled one of their own seven seconds later. The Lions were able to use some time before Sims was fouled and he made two big free throws, as another triple by Westcliff made it 82-80 with 10 seconds left. Westcliff got the ball back off a turnover and the Warriors went for the tie, but the layup would not fall, with VU holding on for the 82-80 victory.
Vanguard shot 50% from the field and from three-point range for the game, along with shooting 77.8% from the free throw line. Westcliff shot 47.5% for the game, 26.3% from deep, and 65.2% from the charity stripe. Vanguard also had a 31-26 edge in the rebound battle. Willis would lead the Lions in points with 21, with White second with 16. Larsen had 11 and Knox had 10 points off the bench. White also led the team in rebounds with seven, with Isaac Davis (SR/Valencia, CA) leading the team in assists with four.
Why is it Important?: This was the closest margin of victory for the Lions over Westcliff, but the team remains undefeated against the Warriors, with VU now leading the all-time series 6-0. The last time the game was a one-possession contest was back in 2018, when the Lions won 83-80.
What was Said? "Sometimes, when you drop a couple of games, it can feel like winning is so far away," said Head Coach Rhett Soliday. "I'm really proud of our guys because we understood tonight that winning is just doing all the things we already try to do every day a little better. Westcliff brought a great fight to the game tonight and every time we had a chance to separate ourselves, they wouldn't let that happen. They hit big shots and made stops at crucial times. I thought our bench stepped up and played great in spurts to help relieve a few guys that they were really keying in on. Now we are back into GSAC play and it is going to take even more to have a chance to win on the road. Westmont is as good as anyone in the country and we have to be gritty and focused to go take one up at their place."
What's Next? The Lions have the first half of the rivalry series with Westmont coming up, as the team will travel to Santa Barbara on Saturday, December 10, with a scheduled start time of 7:30 p.m.
