FULTON, Mo. - Romo Tabb recorded 26 points in the commanding 94-69 Blue Jay win over SLIAC opponent Fontbonne.
Westminster improves to 3-2 and 1-0 in conference play. Fontbonne falls to 0-3.
"We were very excited to play our first home game," said Westminster Head Coach Matt Mitchell. "Almost too excited. We were very energetic on defense to start the game but too excited on offense."
Despite the 25-point win, the Griffins stayed in the game for the entirety of the first half. At the 13 minute mark, Westminster had taken its largest lead of the game at 14-5 after taking a 12-0 run over three minutes.
A Fontbonne layup with under five minutes put the Griffins back within one point, but Carter Wands hit a layup to keep the Westminster lead.
The Griffins again came back within one score of Westminster, but the Blue Jays took a 6-0 run in the final minutes of the half to maintain a 37-31 lead at the half.
"Once we settled down and started making simple plays, the game got easier," said Mitchell.
The Blue Jays opened the half with a 7-0 to jump start their 57-point half. With less an a minute into the half, Westminster opened back up a double-digit lead.
The Griffins kept fighting to stay in the game, staying within range of Westminster for the first five minutes of the half.
At the 14:54 mark, Romo Tabb got a pass from Carter Wands in transition and slammed the ball home to give Westminster the momentum it needed. In just the next possession, Tabb made a steal and took the ball coast-to-coast for a second straight commanding dunk, putting Westminster on top 54-43.
Villalobos finished out the 9-0 run for Westminster with a three-pointer at the 13:48 mark to extend the lead to 14.
It wasn't until under eight minutes left in the game that the Blue Jays were able to take the dominating lead. Another dunk from Tabb and a three-pointer from Cody Shaw increased the lead to 20, eventually ending the game with a 94-69 deficit.
"Fontbonne is a very younf team and our maturity and depth wore them down in the second half," said Mitchell. "It was a good way to start the conference season."
On top of his 26 points, Tabb added six rebounds and two blocks. Wands tallied 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while Collin Caywood scored 11 from the bench.
The Blue Jays continue conference play at Greenville Saturday at 3 p.m.
