SALT LAKE CITY  Western Colorado pulled even in the opening minute of the second half, the first tie since the early moments of the game, but host Westminster University answered with an 11-0 run then held off the Mountaineers' challenges in the Griffins' 79-62 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win Saturday afternoon in Behnken Field House.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Westminster def. Western, 79-62
Records: Western 5-11 overall, (3-5 RMAC), Westminster 7-9 (2-6)
Location: Behnken Field House, Salt Lake City, Utah

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Aidan McDowell's 3-pointer opened the scoring in the game and soon after his driving layup made in 5-2 in favor of the Mountaineers, but Cole Kadoguchi nailed a 3-pointer for the Griffins to even the score and begin a 10-0 run that the Mountaineers were never able to overcome.
• A Jordan Kuac layup brought Western to within three, 14-11, and late in the opening half a Quincy Scott triple did the same, 28-25, but Westminster finished off the half leading 34-29 entering the break.
• In the opening minute of the second half McDowell was fouled on a missed 3-point attempt, and in the aftermath a technical foul was issued to the fouling player putting McDowell at the line for five three throws. Each of the five ripped the netting and in just 26 seconds Western had evened the score at 34-34.
• Westminster's 11-0 run, though, squashed Western's momentum, and though Scott hit another 3-pointer to trim a deficit to just five, 47-42, a 7-0 answer by the Griffins ignited a finish that saw Westminster outscore the Mountaineers 32-20 the rest of the way.

HARDWOOD NOTES

• McDowell scored 22 in the loss, with Scott equaling that output for a career high, the two combining for 44 of Western's 62 points.
• Scott's career night included 4-of-6 from behind the arc, while McDowell's total was buoyed by a 9-of-10 afternoon from the free throw line.
• Four Griffins reached double digits in scoring on the night, but a 47-27 rebounding advantage, including 33 defensive boards, kept Western's attack to many one-and-done's during the game, the Mountaineers totaling just 4 second-chance points.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will host South Dakota Mines on Jan. 29 and Black Hills State on Jan. 31 in a pair of RMAC games at Paul Wright Gym.