Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Behind four players in double figures, the Westminster College men's basketball team defeated in-state rival Dixie State 84-82 on Tuesday night at Burns Arena.

Senior Ben Walker led the Westminster (3-0) attack with 22 points.  He was 8-of-14 from the floor while also going 6-for-7 at the foul line.  Walker also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds with two blocks and two steals.  Jake Orchard added 18 points and three steals. AJ Reilly added 14 points and Jordan Hayter scored 10.

Dalton Groskreutz led Dixie (0-1) with 16 points with Griffon Jones adding 14 points.  McKay Massey scored 12 points while Solomon Jensen had nine points and a team-best six rebounds.

Westminster finished the game shooting 52% from the floor while also making 4-of-12 from beyond the arc.  They were 28-for-38 at the charity stripe and grabbed 26 rebounds.  The Griffins forced 21 turnovers and scored 19 points off those turnovers.

After the team traded leads for the first five minutes, Westminster would eventually take the lead at 10-9 with 14:30 to play in the first half.  They would then use a 14-6 run over the next six minutes to build a 24-15 lead and they would never trail again.

Dixie would get within 66-60 at the 5:50 mark of the second half.  Westminster would get two free throws apiece from Reilly and Orchard.  Hayter would then bury a three and the lead was back to 75-63 with 3:36 to play.  The Red Storm would continue to apply pressure and when Groskreutz hit a three at the 1:40 mark the lead was back to six at 82-76.

Mitch Frei would then make two free throws with 1:29 to play to get the Westminster lead to four.  Hayter would make two freebies to push the lead back to six, but the Griffins would commit back-to-back turnovers and with 16 seconds the lead was two.  After another turnover, the Griffins played solid defense and Chris Cassity would grab a rebound and be fouled.

Cassity would miss both freebies, but Alex Drecksel would grab the offensive rebound and get fouled with 4.8 seconds left.  After Drecksel missed his two at the stripe, Westminster pressured Dixie up the floor and didn't allow them a final shot for the tie.

Westminster is back in action on Friday when they host Northern New Mexico in the Westminster Tipoff Classic.  The home opener will tipoff at 7 p.m. in the Behnken Field House.