SALT LAKE CITY— Brayden Johnson scored a season high 17 points to lead all scorers as Westminster's men's basketball began 2021 with a 65-60 win at home over Chadron State Eagles.
 
The Griffins finished the night shooting 50.0% from the field making 7-18 from three and 6-9 from the stripe. They scored 28 pints in the paint, saw 10 points from the bench and won the battle underneath the basket out rebounding the Eagles 33-27.
 
Westminster took control of the game with a 9-2 run late in the first half. A three from Reme Torbert, a basket from Johnson and Isaiah Banks and a pair of free throws from Matt Kitzman gave the Griffins a seven-point lead, 35-28, to end the half.
 
The Griffins started the second half with a 17-5 run for their largest lead of the game, 19-points. The Eagles were undeterred and were able to slowly chip away at the lead. Chadron made a late 8-0 run with three minutes remaining to come within four points.
 
Kitzman, with a driving layup, and Banks with a steal on the next possession, secured Westminster's win in the final minute.
 
Johnson and Joey Andrews led the Griffins in scoring and rebounding. Johnson added six rebounds to his season-high 17 points, shooting 8-13 from the field and 1-1 from the stripe. Andrews scored 14 points, shooting 5-6 from the field, 2-3 from three and 2-2 from the stripe, and grabbed six rebounds.
 
The Griffins are on the road next weekend at Colorado Christian on Friday and MSU Denver on Saturday. Games will be live streamed on the RMAC Network.