Box Score BOX SCORE
SALT LAKE CITY – Matt Ballenger made a 3-pointer with 2.3 second remaining to give the College of Idaho a 55-52 victory over the Westminster men's basketball team on Friday night. Westminster (3-4) shot just 37.5% from the floor and was just 7-of-31 from beyond the arc. The College of Idaho (2-2) went 9-of-18 in the second half and finished with a 26-18 advantage in points in the paint. The loss marks the first time since the Behnken Field House opened in 2005 that the Griffins have lost consecutive games at home.
The Griffins took a 47-40 lead with 9:05 remaining when
Weston Anderson capped a 7-0 run with a fast break layup. The rest of the game belonged to the visitors from Caldwell, Idaho. The Yotes outscored the Griffins 16-5 over the final nine minutes, capped by the Ballenger three from the right angle. Anderson got a shot off from just past half court at the buzzer, but it was a little short, hitting backboard and rim as time expired. Anderson had a 16-footer on the Westminster possession previous to the College of Idaho winner that went long.
Anderson finished with a team-high 17 points, but shot just 7-of-16 from the field. He matched a career high with seven assists and added one rebound and one steal.
Ben Walker added 10 points and five rebounds, but sat much of the second half with foul trouble. Leading scorer
Blair Prowse shot just 3-of-12 and scored only nine points.
The College of Idaho played zone much of the game, forcing the Griffins into 31 attempts from beyond the arc. That was more than half of the 56 total shots the team attempted. Westminster held a 28-25 lead at the half while holding the Yotes to 36.5% shooting during the first 20 minutes. The College of Idaho made just 6-of-20 from beyond the arc, but Ballenger was 4-of-7.
Craig McGee led all scorers with 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Ballenger added seven rebounds to his 16 points and two assists. Brian Bergeson finished with six points off the bench, including a three with 1:36 remaining to put his team ahead 52-50.
Westminster returns to action on Saturday, November 28 when they face Westmont in the final game of the Westminster Thanksgiving Classic. That game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start following the 5:30 game between the College of Idaho and Carroll College.
