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Westmont men’s basketball explodes offensively against Hope International
By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER
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After a frustrating stretch of GSAC games Westmont Men’s Basketball (13-10, 6-8 GSAC) took out their frustrations on the bottom of the rim on Saturday afternoon. Against the Hope International Royals (16-8, 9-6 GSAC), the Warriors came out victorious by a score of 105-75. “Everybody brought in tonight,” said Westmont head coach Landon Boucher. “I’m really proud of the team for bouncing back the way they did. To have a game like this where we put up a record number of threes with a ton of assists was phenomenal.
“That’s what Westmont Basketball has been built on, finding teammates.”
Whereas in recent games Westmont’s threepoint shooting had let them down in big moments, the Warriors’ efforts from downtown on Saturday ensured there would be no such issue. In the first half alone Westmont converted eight of 14 shots from three-point range, with Cade Roth leading the club with a trio.
Westmont in total converted 18 of 34 from the field during the opening period, where the Royals shot just 12 of 32 without converting a single 3pointer. By halftime, the Warriors hot shooting had put the club up 51-29.
At halftime of the game the Murchison Gym crowd remained in their seats for a special celebration honoring the 1971-72 Men’s Basketball team, which is remembered historically for being the last team in the tenure of Coach Tom Byron. Saturday night marked the 51-year anniversary of the night that Westmont hosted NCAA Div. I #13 Hawaii on the day after Byron’s passing. Led by Fred DeVaughn’s 34-point effort, the Warriors banded together amidst a mourning community to upset Hawaii 90-89 in one of the most famous games in Westmont College history.
DeVaughn was in attendance for the ceremony, along with several of his Warrior teammates. Joining the leading scorer was Charles Anderson, Don Bregante, Andrew Hill, Charlie Meh, lRich Prehn, and Tim Walton. Coaches from the team in attendance were Ron Mulder and Dave Bregante, as well as Byron’s children, Tom Byron Jr. and
