The Westminster men's basketball team lost with a buzzer-beater three-pointer to Central Christian College of the Bible, 93-92. The Westminster Blue Jays are now 7-12 on the season.
The Central Christian College of the Bible Saints jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but four minutes later sophomore Nick Carlos hit a three-pointer and a jump shot to take the lead, 14-13. The Saints quickly took the lead back, but a jumper by senior Aaron Jackson Jr. gave the Blue Jays a one-point lead with 12:12 on the clock, 19-18. Three-pointers by Carlos and sophomore Tanner Cochran extended the lead to seven points, 27-20, but the Saints brought the game within one with two three-pointers of their own. With 7:33 on the clock, sophomore Romo Tabb began a 9-0 run to pull the Blue Jays up by ten, 36-26. The Saints turned around and scored seven consecutive points to bring the game within three with 4:16 to play, but the Blue Jays continued to hold a steady lead and with 58 seconds left in the first half they lead by eight, 48-40. In the final 36 seconds of the half, the Saints managed a 5-0 stint to leave the Blue Jays leading by just three at halftime, 48-45.
The Blue Jays lost possession of the lead when the Saints struck an 8-0 run in the beginning of the second half. A field goal by Tabb took back the lead, but the Saints answered with two three-pointers and a jump shot. The Saints held possession until freshman Stu Hollandsworth put in a jumper to knot the game at 68-68 with 9:25 to play. Carlos knotted the game once again, and a three by Cochran took a 74-71 lead. The lead changed five more times over the next 3:17, and the Saints grabbed hold with 2:18 to go. A three-pointer by Cochran with 1:25 on the clock knotted the game at 88-88, but the Saints knocked down a jumper to take back the lead. A foul committed on freshman Carter Wands sent him to the line, and he sank both to tie the game back up with 0:43 to play. Carlos put in a field goal to take the 92-90 lead with just seconds remaining, but the Saints put away a buzzer-beater three to win the game.
Carlos led the floor with 26 points. He sank six three-pointers and shot 60 percent from the three-point line. Cochran added 17 points as he went 5-for-6 from the three-point line. Wands and sophomore Jimmy Villalobos each pulled down six boards and Wands dished in five assists.
The Blue Jays return home for a conference game versus Fontbonne on Wednesday, February 3, at 8:00 pm.
