Salt Lake City, Utah,   The Western Colorado Men's Basketball team comes back from a twenty-point deficit to defeat the Griffins 84-80.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado University Def. Westminster University 84-80
Records: Western Colorado overall 6-9 (RMAC 4-4) | Westminster University overall 9-6 (RMAC 3-4).
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah / Behnken Field House
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freshman Dawlton Grant earned the first bucket of the game 2-0. The Griffins took a 4-2 lead after scoring back-to-back layups. WCU had an offensive possession, senior Spencer Wright for senior Kade Juelfs for an open three 5-4.
• WU answered with a score 6-5 but senior Trey Anderson knocked down a three for an 8-6 edge. The Griffins tied the game at 8 a-piece after a hook shot in the paint. Wright with a floater won the tie 10-8.
• The respective teams traded points for the next few minutes to put the score at 19-17. A turnaround jumper for junior Ty Buckmon elevated WCU's score 21-17. After two free-throws, a steal and a good pull up jumper, the score was tied at 21 a-piece.
• Westminster took a 24-21 advantage after knocking down a three with ten minutes left in the first half. A missed shot by WCU resulted in a fast break for WU and awarded them two free throws. Another miss for the Mountaineers allowed the Griffins to take a 28-21 edge.
• Two scoreless minutes passed until WU hit a turn around jump shot to put them up 30-21. Junior Andrew Reichart scored for the Mountaineers after a six-minute drought 30-23. A few possessions later the Griffins earned an eleven-point lead with less than three minutes to play 37-26.
• A floater by Wright followed by a layup by senior Amar Rivers made it a seven-point game 37-30. In the final minute, Rivers and sophomore Tyler Halligan traded points with the Griffins to put the score at 46-35, advantage WU, to go into halftime.  
• The Griffins began the second half on a nine-point run 55-35. Wright ended their run with a three 55-38. Juelfs hit a couple of shots, but WU took a twenty-point advantage 61-41. Anderson and junior Christian Still hit threes but WU match putting the score at 63-49 with under fifteen minutes to play.
• A few plays later, Halligan assisted Rivers for a shot behind the arch to get the Mountaineers within nine 63-54. Senior Nalik Veasley completed a three-point play, followed by a driving layup from Halligan to put WCU within six 65-59. WU matched then fouled Juelfs, twice, which sent him to the charity stripe knocking down four 67-63.
• WU, with the ball, recorded another bucket but WCU on a roll, Rivers hit a jumper 69-65. The Griffins missed a free throw, allowing Hollins to grab the board, pushing the ball to Still who found Reichart for a floater 69-67. Another WU fast break pushed their lead 71-67.
• Under five minutes in regulation, Anderson knocked down a huge three, 71-70, answered by the Griffins 73-70. Mountaineer fouls put WU up 77-72. At the opposite end of the court, Halligan pulled down an offensive board, passing it to Rivers who made it a two points game 77-75.
• The Mountaineers forced the Griffins into a turnover, putting the ball in the hands of Rivers who found Veasley, under the net, for an open bucket to tie the game 77-77 and forcing WU to call a timeout.
• Out of the timeout Anderson put away a three, taking the lead 80-77. WU completed a three-point play 80-80 but with thirty seconds left, Veasley hit Anderson who finished around the rim 82-80. The Griffins called a timeout, but their last offensive possession wasn't enough. They Fouled Anderson at the last second 84-80.

 
COURT NOTES

• Anderson led the Mountaineers with 19 points, going 6-12 from the field, 5-10 from three and 2-2 from the charity stripe. Rivers followed with 17 points, going 6-8 from the field, 3-4 from three and 2-2 from the free throw line. Juelfs finished with 15, going 2-3 from the field, 1-1 from three and 10-10 from the line. Wright also posted double-digit points, finishing with 11 going 4-4 from the field, 2-2 from three and 1-2 from the line.
• Hollins grabbed 8 total rebounds, 3 offensive and 5 defensive. Anderson followed, grabbing 5, then Rivers, Veasley and Halligan finished with 3.
• Wright had two blocks while Anderson, Veasley, Halligan and Reichart each had one.
• The Mountaineers shot 54.9% from the field, 52.2% from behind the arch and 80% from the free throw lines. WCU had 16 second chance points, 31 bench points, 12 points off turnovers, and 26 points in the paint.

UP NEXT
Mountaineer men's basketball travel to RMAC opponent South Dakota Mines on Thursday January 23 at 7:30pm.  
 
For more information visit gomountaineers.com