COSTA MESA -- Vanguard men's basketball closed out the calendar year against the Cougars of Mount Royal out of Calgary, Canada, on Thursday and led from start to finish. While the Lions slowed down somewhat offensively in the second half, the team had more than enough firepower to close out an 87-61 victory.
Cam'Ron Wilson connected for 20 points to lead the Lions, who were up by double-digits for most of the game. The Blue and Gold will enter the 2024 half of the schedule at 10-3, while Mount Royal falls to 5-6.
What Happened? Preston Sims took an open lane and finished off the glass to start the game and
Bryson Metz followed suit over a minute later to make it 4-0. The Cougars made their first layup at the 17:28 mark but the Lions would own the next seven minutes, as the squad rattled off a 20-8 run to increase the lead to 24-10.
Jackson Larsen made nine points over a two-minute stretch during the streak and Wilson netted five, including his first three of the contest.
Mount Royal made a short 6-0 stretch to cut the lead to 26-16 but the VU motor changed gears and got back into a dynamic rhythm.
Micah Swartz made a nice drive finished while getting fouled, tagging on the free throw to put the Lions up 37-22 with 4:00 left. He then drained a three with 2:54 left in the period, as VU would score the final 14 points of the half.
Anthony Tello capped the frame with a triple with two seconds remaining to send Vanguard into the locker room ahead 51-22.
The Lions shot 48.8% from the floor and 23.5% from deep in the first half. The squad held the Cougars to 31% shooting from the floor in the first 20 minutes.
The lead would reach its high-water mark two minutes into the second, as Metz scored the first five VU points to make the 30-point lead stand at 56-26. Wilson started to get downhill as the second period moved along, tallying six points around the key in the span of two minutes to make the score 74-44 with 11:53 to go in the half. While the lead was never in doubt, the Cougars were able to narrowly outscore the Lions 39-36 in the period.
Wilson made his second three of the night with 7:06 left and Tello splashed down with another a minute later. Layups for Swartz,
Kobe Nunes, and
Ethan Hanning helped to close out the scoring for Vanguard, as the squad cruised to an 87-61 victory.
The Lions shot 43.4% from the field in the game, 25% from downtown (9-36), and made six of the team's 10 free throws. The Cougars shot at a 40.4% clip from the floor, went 8-for-23 from deep (34.8%), and made seven of 11 free throws (63.6%). VU edged out the win in the rebound battle 45-43, including a 15-8 edge in offensive boards.
Wilson went 8-of-19 on the night for 20 points, with two threes and two free throws, and was second on the team with seven rebounds. Larsen was second in scoring with 11 points and Swartz was third with 10.
Pape Cisse paced the Lions with 10 rebounds and added eight points.
Mitchell Prevost led the Lions with five assists and Metz was next with four. Keivonte Watts led all players with 24 points for Mount Royal.
What was Said? "I'm proud of the guys for coming back from the break focused and ready to compete," said Head Coach
Rhett Soliday after the game. "We had a great start to the game and kept it going all through the first half. This was our last tune up before entering the most difficult part of the season, GSAC play. I believe our guys are ready and excited to see how good we can get. It's going to take everybody and our guys are excited for the challenge ahead."
What's Next? Vanguard begins Golden State Athletic Conference action on Thursday, January 4, on the road against Hope International. VU will begin the 5:30/7:30 p.m. doubleheaders, with the men playing second on the night.
