Indianola, IA 11/12/2022- The Westminster College men's basketball team traveled to Iowa to kick off their season competing in the SLIAC/ARC Crossover. They would open the season against the Buena Vista University Beavers. The Blue Jays would lead most of the game and would have the lead 72-71 with 1:11 left to play. The Beavers would go on a nine-point run in the last minute to win the game 80-72.
Westminster would start the game down 6-2 in the opening minutes. Jaxon Althaus (Oak Grove, Mo. / Oak Grove) made a three to make 6-5 and big Ben Eberlin (Hardin, IL / Calhoun) would give the Jays their first lead of the game after scoring on a nice post move. The Blue Jays would then run out to a ten-point lead, 20 to 10 halfway through the first half. They would hold that lead for the rest of the half, leading 39-24 at halftime.
The Beavers would cut into the Jays' lead early in the second half, bringing the lead to just one point at 39-38 with 15:49 left to play. Makygh Galbreath (Fulton, MO/Fulton) hit a jump shot to put Westminster up six, 50-44, with 12 minutes left to play. The Jay would continue to hold Buena Vista at arm's length, trading baskets back and forth.
Buena Vista would get to the foul line two trips in a row and make four free throws to make the score 64-62 with 3:47 left in the game. Brennan Jefferies (Jefferson City, Mo. / Jefferson City) and Eberlin would answer with back-to-back layups putting the Jays back up six points with 2:37 left. Galbreath would make two free throws to extend the lead to seven points.
The Beavers would make a layup that resulted in a three-point play after a shooting foul was called. On their next possession, they hit a three-pointer and Buena Vista found themselves down one point with 1:11 left to play and the score 72-71. They would go on 9-0 run in the final minute and win the game 80-72.
Westminster was led by Althaus, who had 30 points and eight rebounds in the game. Eberlin had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Junior forward Tre Kempker (Eugene, MO/Eugene) had 9 points and 9 rebounds.
The Blue Jays will be back in action tomorrow as they take on Simpson College at 3:00 PM
