#1 Illinois Wesleyan (10-0) claimed the Tom Byron Classic championship trophy by defeating the host Westmont Warriors (8-4) by a score of 76-60 Friday night at Murchison Gymnasium. The Warriors put up a valiant effort and pulled to within seven points with eight minutes to play in the second half, but Illinois Wesleyan was able to prevent any Westmont’s heroics.

In the consolation game, #5 Puget Sound (8-2) set a new tournament record of points scored in a tournament game in defeating Berry (Ga.) 117-108. The Loggers, who scored 35 of their points from the charity stripe, also set new tournament records for free throws made and attempted (47). In fact, the Puget Sound set seven new tournament records and tied an eighth. On Thursday night, the Loggers set a new record for three point field goals made in a game (15) and then added 10 more on Friday night to tie the record held by Westmont for most three point field goals in two tournament games (25). They also set the two-game record for points scored (204), free throws attempted (67) and free throws made (49).

[Berry-Puget Sound stats] [Illinois Wesleyan-Westmont stats]

Westmont Men’s Basketball (8-3) advanced to the championship game of the Tom Byron Classic with an 85-63 win over Berry (Ga.) at Murchison Gymnasium. The Warriors will match up with the top ranked team in the NCAA Division III, Illinois Wesleyan, on Friday night in a 7:30 p.m. game. The Titans (9-0) advanced to the title game by virtue of a 104-87 victory over #5 Puget Sound. A consolation game between Berry (7-5) and Puget Sound (7-2) will precede the championship event.

“It was a tale of two halves,” said Westmont’s head coach John Moore. “Tyler Dutton, a freshman, played super in the first half with 15 points. Then our upper classmen really came on in the second half – Nick (Debban), Santiago (Aguirre) and Aaron (Tudor) in particular.”

[Illinois Wesleyan-Puget Sound stats] [Berry-Westmont stats]

Senior guard Megan Fate scored a personal high 36 points as Westmont women’s basketball (6-5) defeated #24 Lubbock Christian (6-3) by a score of 71-63 at Murchison Gymnasium. Fate connected for five of eight from three-point range in the first half in which she scored 21 points.

“This was a great team win for us tonight,” said head coach Kirsten McKnight. “Obviously Megan Fate led the way for us with her composure. Not only was she scoring well, but she was leading the tempo of the team.”

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This year’s rendition of the Tom Byron Classic looks to provide excellent men’s basketball competitions on Thursday and Friday at Murchison Gymnasium on the Westmont campus. The tournament is comprised of two highly ranked NCAA Division III teams and two quality NAIA programs.

The Tom Byron Classic honors Westmont’s former coach who led the Warriors from 1965-70 and again from 1971-72. Byron, who was known for excellence and intensity, passed away during the 1971-72 season after a battle with cancer. The tournament was begun five years later in his honor.

[download tournament program]

A 75-55 victory over Bethany (Calif.) gave Westmont men’s basketball its 1,000 win in program history. Since 1940, the program has amassed a record of 1000-681 (.595). Junior center Santiago Aguirre led the Warriors with 13 points and 7 rebounds in the victory over the Bruins (3-11).

“Sant was unstoppable,” said freshman guard Tyler Dutton. “When he is going to the basket and being a little selfish - that’s good.” Dutton showed an ability to score himself, recording 12 points – 10 of which came in the second half – on 5 of 8 shooting from the field. “Coach tells me to work on taking good shots and that’s what I was trying to focus on,” said Dutton.

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Westmont women’s basketball drained 13 of 25 three-point attempts (52%) and produced 20 steals as the Warriors (5-5) defeated Bethany (Calif.) 87-47 at Murchison Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

Senior Guard Meghan O’Donogue led the way for Westmont with 18 points including five from three-point range. Sophomore forward Stephanie Anderson made all three of her long distance attempts and tallied 16 points. Senior center Sara Uhlman added 14 points and six rebounds while two freshmen, Ali Mooty and Annie Johnson each scored 11 to give the Warriors five players in double figures. Mooty also collected 11 rebounds to earn the third double-double of her collegiate career.

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Despite a double-double performance by junior center Santiago Aguirre, Westmont Men’s Basketball lost a nail biter at Murchison Gymnasium on Saturday night as Claremont-Mudd-Scripps gained a 73-70 victory in overtime. CMS was led by sophomore transfer Emanuel Maceira (19 points) and senior John Parsons (16 points) and Miles Taylor (10 points, 10 rebounds).

Aguirre shot 60% from the floor and knocked down seven of eight free throws as he amassed 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors. Aguirre also contributed six points and four steals. Westmont also received significant offensive production from senior Kevin Bartel (16 points, 5 rebounds), senior Nick Debban (15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists) and sophomore Josh Ware (9 points).

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Seattle Pacific (5-2), the tenth ranked team in NCAA Division II paid a visit to Murchison Gymnasium on Saturday and walked away with 95-66 non-conference victory over the Westmont women’s basketball team.

The game began well enough for the Warriors with Stephanie Anderson (6 points, 5 rebounds) and Megan Fate (16 points) scoring in the first minute to give the Warriors a 4-0 start. Carli Grant, who led the Falcons with 20 points, dropped in a jumper to start the scoring for Seattle Pacific.

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