By Jacob Norling
January 20, 2024
 
(La Mirada, Calif.) In a thrilling rivalry contest on Saturday night the Westmont Warriors (6-10, 3-7 PacWest) went into Chase Gymnasium and handed the Biola Eagles (12-7, 7-4) a 72-68 loss on their home floor. Earlier this season, Biola came into Murchison Gym and spoiled an evening for Westmont's largest crowd of the season.
 
This time, it was the Warriors that sent a crowd home quiet, after coming away with their most exciting win of the season.
 
Individually, Westmont's three-leading scorers all finished in double-figures, with Adrian McIntyre, Anthony McIntyre, and Amir Davis all providing a fair share of scoring. Leading the way was Adrian McIntyre, who ended the night with a game-high 19 points on seven of 13 shooting to go along with four steals and three rebounds.
 
Behind Adrian, Anthony scored 17 points to go along with 4 assists, while Davis also finished with an efficient 17 points on eight of 11 shooting. Davis also led Westmont with six rebounds.
 
Things did not look promising for the Warriors after the first half of action, with Biola going into the locker room leading 41-33. Out of the intermission, it took Westmont nearly 10 minutes to draw even. At the 11:17 mark, however, Adrian McIntyre converted a pair of free throws to both tie it up, and give Westmont the lead.
 
Over the final 10 minutes of action the two sides were neck-and-neck, and the contest found itself tied at 64 with two minutes and change remaining. With 2:06 on the clock, Adrian converted a layup that gave Westmont the lead at 66-64. The club would never again relinquish the lead.
 
Putting the nail in the coffin, the Warriors came away with their ninth, 10th, and 11th steals of the game in the final 90 seconds, leading to transition baskets that padded the lead. With four seconds remaining, Davis converted one of two shots from the line, which was all Westmont needed as the scoreboard read 72-68.
 
Seconds later, the Warriors headed to the locker room with a feeling that has evaded them for much of the last two months: satisfaction.
 
The Warriors' road trip continues on Thursday night against Fresno Pacific, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Links to live coverage will be available on the Westmont Athletics website.