Box Score BOX SCORE

SALT LAKE CITY – One year after dominating everyone with the presence of their bigs, the Westminster men's basketball team went small to defeat in-state for Dixie State 68-53 on Friday night. Starting guards Wes Anderson and Blair Prowse combined for 43 points, including 10 during a six minute stretch in the second half that helped the No. 9 Griffins (1-0) take control of the game. Westminster has now won eight consecutive season openers and 11 straight non-conference home games.

The game was even throughout the opening 20 minutes with neither team opening up more than the five point cushion Westminster held with eight minutes to play. Dixie used a 13-5 run to open up a 29-26 lead and turned that into a 33-31 halftime advantage.

After Dixie got a Tom Whitehead tip-in to open the second half scoring, Westminster went on a 23-4 run over the next nine minutes to build a 54-39 lead. During that stretch, the Griffins received seven points each from Prowse and Anderson. They also turned up the defensive pressure, forcing Dixie into nine consecutive missed field goal attempts and five turnovers during the run.

“I thought the second half our toughness and defense was outstanding for a first game,” head coach Tommy Connor said. “I was really proud of the guys for demonstrating toughness I didn't even think we had.”

Anderson finished the game with a career-high 22 points on 8 of 15 shooting. He was aggressive all night taking the ball to the basket and finished with 10 points in the paint. Prowse recorded 21 points in his first game after missing most of last season with an ankle injury. He was active on both ends of the floor and grabbed five rebounds, two steals, and one blocked shot.

“He (Prowse) is a good player that is going to have to have a good year for our team,” Conner commented. “He was an all-league guard when he played two years ago.”

Junior college transfer Ben Walker came up with 11 points and six rebounds in his first Westminster game. Tanner Gregory grabbed a team-high seven rebounds during his first game after two seasons away.

Dixie (0-1) got a solid outing from Tom Whitehead who finished with 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Andy Palmer also scored 17 points and went 6 for 6 from the free throw line. Dixie held the Griffins to just 41.8% shooting, well below the 52.9% they shot last season to lead the NAIA.

Westminster is back in action on Saturday, November 7, when they host Warner Pacific in the Behnken Field House. Warner Pacific is ranked No. 18 in Division 2 of the NAIA and defeated Rocky Mountain 89-82 on Friday. The game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. following the Rocky Mountain versus Dixie State game at 6:00 p.m.