Box Score SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster men's basketball opened the 2019-20 season with a 75-71 home victory over UT-Tyler on Saturday night at Behnken Field House.

Jake Connor scored 16 points to lead four Griffins in double figures, as Jai Jai Ely added 13 points, Joonas Tahvanainen scored 11 and Alec Monson had 10.

Westminster jumped out to a 39-31 lead at halftime, shooting 65 percent from the field. The Griffins held the Patriots to 25 percent shooting from the field and just 3-20 behind the arc. UT-Tyler battled back behind 11 second-half points from Ty Glover, who finished with 20 points to lead all scorers.

The Patriots held a 63-60 lead with just five minutes left in the game, but Monson scored five straight points on two free throws and a 3-pointer to give the Griffins back the lead. A jumper from Ely and another three by Monson extended the lead to 70-64. The Patriots did their best to mount a comeback, but Ely made 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch to ice the game for Westminster.

Jerekius Davis posted a double double for UT-Tyler, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Micah Fuller added 13 points.

Westminster returns to action tomorrow, hosting Texas A&M-Commerce in the Conference Challenge finale. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT and the game will be streamed live.