DENVER, Colo.—Westminster's men's basketball (9-6, 4-5 RMAC) fell to MSU Denver (8-7, 4-4 RMAC) Saturday night at the Auraria Event Center.
 
Free throws helped the Griffins stay close on a night shooting was down. The Griffins went 23-31 outscoring the Roadrunners 23-16 from the free throw line.
 
The Griffins trailed by only five points, 22-27, at halftime despite shooting 11.1 percent from three and 30.4 percent from the field in the first half. Shooting percentage from the field improved to 42.9 percent in the second half.
 
Jake Connor scored a layup and free throw to put the Griffins in front with 13:48 left in the second half. The lead changed three more times in a minute with the Roadrunners up, 39-38.
 
Westminster came within four points twice, in the final minute, but were unable to overcome the deficit.
 
Alec Monson, Brandon Warr and Joonas Tahvanainen led the Griffins in scoring. Monson went 10-11 from the charity stripe and finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Warr scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Joonas Tahvanainen scored 14 points.
 
The Griffins will be home for two weekends beginning with Regis and Colorado Christian next Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18.