Box Score SANTA BARBARA, CA– The 13th ranked Arizona Christian Firestorm men's basketball team were upset by the Westmont Warriors on Saturday afternoon by a score of 82-81 in Santa Barbara, California.
With the loss the 13th ranked Firestorm fall to 16-4 overall and suffer their first GSAC loss of the season to fall to 5-1 in conference play. With the victory, the Westmont Warriors improve to 13-6 overall and 5-1 in GSAC play.
In the first half, the Westmont Warriors would take a slim lead into the halftime break with a 41-39 lead. The Firestorm shot 46% from the floor and shot 71% from beyond the three-point arc. ACU also made it count from the free-throw line, converting on 8-of-11 attempts from the charity stripe. Westmont shot 50% from the floor, but shot just 35% (5-for-14) from beyond the three-point arc. The Warriors also made it count from the free-throw line, shooting 8-for-9 in the first half.
The Firestorm came out ready to go in the second half and would outscore Westmont 34-32 in the second half to force overtime with a 73-73 tie. In the second half, ACU shot 50% from the floor and 60% from downtown. ACU struggled at the free-throw line in the second half, shooting 64% (11-for-17). Westmont shot 40% from the field in the second half and shot just 36% (4-for-11) from the three-point arc; while also struggling from the free throw line (4-for-9).
In overtime, Westmont was able to edge ACU by converting on two of their three shots, while also shooting 4-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Firestorm shot 4-for-8 from the field in overtime, but missed their lone three-point shot and never attempted a free-throw.
In the loss, four Firestorm players scored in double-figures, with Sharif Watson leading the way with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting with five rebounds and three assists.
The Firestorm men will take the week off, before returning home this Saturday January 24th; when William Jessup comes to Phoenix for a 3pm tip-off. The ACU women's basketball team will precede the men's game at 1pm.
