Fulton, MO, 1/27/22 – The Westminster College men's basketball team found themselves tied up at 65-65 with 3:19 to play in their game against the Fontbonne University Griffins Thursday night. That's when the wheels fell off for the Blue Jays. Fontbonne responded with an 8-0 run over the next 1:32 of game time to take a 73-65 lead with 1:47 to play thanks to two turnovers and two missed Blue Jay shots. The Griffins would close the game out at the free throw line going 9-10 down the stretch to beat the Blue Jays 82-72. The loss dropped the Blue Jays to 6-12 overall and 2-5 in the SLIAC.
The Blue Jays got off to a great start in the game opening up a 17-11 lead 11 minutes into the game on a Coby Williams (Versailles, Mo. / Morgan County R-2) three pointer. The Blue Jays would take their last lead of the game on a Landon Harrison (Jefferson City, MO / Helias) pull up jumper 21-19 with 5:47 to play in the first half. The Griffins would close the half on a 18-9 run to take a 37-30 lead into the break.
The second half saw the Griffins increase their lead to 42-32 just three minutes into the half. Later a 7-0 run by the Blue Jays that was powered by a Devonte Hubbard (Lee's Summit, Mo. / Grandview Christian) jumper, a Jaxon Althaus (Oak Grove, MO / Oak Grove) three and a pair of Emil Spriggs (Kansas City, MO / Lee's Summitt North) free throws to close the gap to 44-43 with 13:56 to play in the game.
Late in the game the Griffins led 65-60. An Althaus three on great ball movement and a Spriggs bucket tied the game at 65-65 to set up the tragic last three minutes.
Althaus led the Jays with 22 points. Hubbard recorded a career high 15 points on 6-7 from the field. Harrison rounded out the three double figure scorers with 11 points. Spriggs hauled down a team high eight rebounds followed by Althaus with six. The Griffins outrebounded the Blue Jays 35-34 on the night. Ethan Thompson (Columbia, MO / Hallsville) and Harrison each had four assists to lead the Jays. Spriggs came up with five steals to lead the team.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as they welcome Eureka College to Historic Gym for a 3:00 p.m. showdown.
