Greenville, IL, 1/20/22 – Westminster College's senior shooting guard Ethan Thompson (Columbia, MO / Hallsville) was on fire Thursday night going 8-10 from the three-point line on the way to a season high 26 points. Four other Blue Jays scored in double figures and the Jays rolled to a 133-114 road victory over the Greenville University Panthers. The win improves the Blue Jays record to 5-10 overall and 1-3 in the SLIAC.
The first half was a little rocky for the Blue Jays. The Jays committed 19 turnovers and gave up 21 offensive rebounds to the Panthers. Those stats led to the Panthers getting 32 more shot attempts than the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays would hit for 61% from the field while the Panthers would shoot a mere 33.3%. This disparity in the shooting percentage helped make up for the 32 extra shots the Panthers got in the first half. The Blue Jays would go into the half trailing by just three 56-53.
The second half saw the Blue Jays come alive with a fury. Thompson would hit five of his eight three's in the second half. Landon Harrison (Jefferson City, MO / Helias) scored 19 second half points and the Blue Jays would romp in the second half over the Panthers. The Jays would score 80 points in the half and cruise to the 133-114 victory.
Thompson led the Blue Jays with 26 points on 9-11 shooting. He was joined in double figures by Harrison with 25 points, Tre Kempker (Eugene, MO / Eugene) who poured in 24 points. Jaxon Althaus (Oak Grove, MO /Oak Grove) chipped in 20 points and Makygh Galbreath (Fulton, MO / Fulton) rounded out the double figure scorers with 14 points. Harrison led the team with ten assists followed by Emil Spriggs (Kansas City, MO / Lee's Summit North) with nine assists and Althaus with eight assists. Althaus led the team with nine rebounds narrowly missing a triple double. Kempker would snare eight rebounds as the Blue Jays would win the battle of the boards 53-41 over the Panthers.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Saturday January 22nd when they will take on the Spalding University Golden Eagles in Historic Gym. The contest is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off.
