Box Score SALT LAKE CITY – The 10th-ranked Westminster College men's basketball team suffered a 59-50 loss against No. 15 Biola on Saturday night at the Westminster Holiday Classic.   It is the first loss at home this season for Westminster and the third time they have lost to a ranked opponent.

The Griffins slip to 11-3 overall this year and have their four-game wining streak snapped.  Biola improves to 9-2 overall after going 2-0 at the Holiday Classic.

For the second straight night Westminster found themselves in a hole early.  The visiting Eagles jumped out to a 17-7 lead less than eight minutes into the game.  After Westminster got within 22-17 at the 5:16 mark of the first half, Biola used a 10-2 run to build the lead to 13 before taking a 35-26 advantage into halftime.

“We started the game taking shots that we don't normally take,” head coach Adam Hiatt stated.  “Some of our good players had a tough night shooting the ball.”

After a 9-1 Biola run to open the second half, the Griffins got the offense rolling.  Behind the strength of a 15-0 run, Westminster cut the deficit to 44-42 with 13:03 to play in the contest.  Over the next six minutes, Westminster would have four possesions with a chance to tie or take the lead.  They failed in each of these situations and when Given Kalipende followed his big three with a steals and layup, Biola was ahead 59-50 with 1:17 to play.

“We gave our selves a chance to win the game in the second half,” Hiatt commented.  “We played better defense in the second half and forced them into some tough shots.”

Westminster stayed in the game throughout the first half in part to the big night from junior Alex Drecksel.  The forward came off the bench to finish with a career-high 18 points. He surpassed his old high of 10 points in the first half where he had 14.  Drecksel made all five of his field goal attempts and grabbed three rebounds.

“Alex had a terrific weekend,” Hiatt said of the forward.  “We was outworking them all night and he deserves the success he had tonight.”

Ben Walker overcame a slow start to finish with 11 points.  It was a tough shooting night for the senior as he went just 5-of-13 from the floor, but he did grab a season-best nine rebounds.  Jordan Hayter added seven points and Tanner Gregory scored six.

The Griffins were outscored in the paint 34-28 one night after holding a 58-32 advantage down low.  They took advantage of 13 Biola turnovers by turning them into 17 points with six fast break points.  Sparked by the career night from Drecksel, the bench held a 24-4 scoring advantage.

Biola shot 42.7% from the floor and were led by 17 points from Chase Adams.  Kalipende finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds along with two assists and two steals.  Davey Hopkins added 11.

Westminster will now take some time off for the Christmas break before returning to action on Dec. 28 when they face Dillard (La.).  That game is the first of two for the Griffins in New Orleans, La. at the Big Easy Challenge.