ATHERTON, Calif. – The Northwest Christian University men’s basketball fell 91-69 on Friday, coming out on the losing end of a battle with the No. 25-ranked Westmont Warriors of NAIA’s DI GSAC conference.
The teams traded leads throughout the first half, with the Beacons holding close with their DI opponent. NCU (3-1) played an efficient 20 minutes to open the game, securing the ball with only five turnovers and holding a lead as late as the 17th minute. Westmont Guard Ben Okhotin put his team out-front soon after with one of his game-high six 3-pointers, beginning a ten-point run by the Warriors who shot just under 58% on the afternoon. Spencer Mattox of Northwest Christian scored the final six points of the half, bringing his team within four going into the intermission.
Senior Malik Heptot opened the second half with a layup to bring the Beacons within two, which was the smallest their deficit would be for the remainder of the game.
Mattox had a career-high 19 points for the Beacons, shooting 67% from the field and going five-for-six from the line. Reece Robinson and Tyrus Hosley combined to score 21 of the Beacons 31 bench points for the game. Robinson contributed 12 points with six rebounds and two steals, while Hosley put up nine points and three assists in his 27 minutes.
Okhotin led Westmont (7-1) with 20 points off the bench. Three other Warriors had double figures in Sean Harman (15), Olisa Nwachie (12), and Zac Jervis (11). Nwachie and Jervis each added seven rebounds, while Jervis dished-out a game-high seven assists.
The Beacons play their second game of the Bud Presley Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, taking on another DI opponent in tournament-host Menlo College at 4 p.m.