SALT LAKE CITY--A physical battle between in-state rivals Westminster and Dixie State saw 52 fouls and 54 free throw attempts. Westminster came out ahead with a conference opening win, 68-64.
A spirited first half saw the score tied three times and the lead change three times. Westminster scored the first five points of the game carried the lead for nine minutes. Dixie State tied it up after behind down by seven points. The teams traded baskets with the lead eventually falling to the Trailblazers who carried it into the half, 30-27.
The margin of error decreased in the second half as the game became more physical and tightly contested. Eighteen fouls in the first ten minutes of the second half put both teams into the bonus early. The game was tied 7 times and the lead changed five times during the half.
With four minutes remaining, Westminster had it's largest lead of the game, 10-points, thanks to a 18-1 run. The path to victory didn't get any easier as Dixie State increased its pressure and fought to take the lead back. Westminster made scored seven points, all coming from the free throw line, in the final minutes to hold on to the lead and win, 68-64.
Jake Connor led the Griffin offense with 24 points, going 12-14 from the stripe, 4-7 from the field and 4-6 from behind the arc.
Brandon Warr put up 14 points and
Jai Jai Ely scored eight and tallied five assist.
Ely grabbed 10 rebounds, all defensive and had a steal on the night. Warr grabbed eight boards with a steal and Joonas Tahvanaine,
Jacob McCord and
Travis Devashrayee each had four rebounds.
"We panicked in teh first half because of their pressure," Head Coach
Norm Parrish said. "In the second half we dealt with the pressure better."
"The atmosphere was great. Many of these player know each other. Coach Judkins and I know each other probably too well."
"It was a team win," Connor commented. "It was a big win. We executed some things well and handled some pressure down the stretch."
The Griffins travel to South Dakota to play conference foes Black Hills State on Friday and South Dakota Mines on Saturday.
