Men's Basketball Beats Westminster Saturday

Four in Doubel Figures for Scots

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (12/18/2022) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team trailed by as many as nine points on Saturday but rallied for an 80-74 non-conference win over Westminster. The Scots (6-4) have won two straight home games and will play their next two games on the road.

Kendall Brasfield (Chicago, Illinois) scored off the opening tip and had four of the Scots first seven points. David Williams (Loves Park, Illinois) had the other three and the game was tied 7-7 before the Bluejays converted a 3-point play. Jordan Hill (Chicago, Illinois) made a free throw then converted a layup off a steal for a 15-14 Monmouth lead. Westminster scored four straight before Williams hit another 3-pointer on the wing to tie the game at 18. Westminster converted another 3-point play then hit a 3-pointer for a 24-18 lead. After Brasfield scored in the lane, the Bluejays hit a free throw for a 25-20 lead.

Jordan Metcalf (Aledo, Illinois) split free throws with Brasfield grabbing the rebound and finding Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois) for a wide-open 3-pointer. Two possessions later, Plumer scored in the lane after Metcalf grabbed an offensive rebound. Westminster turned it over and Metcalf scored in the lane for a 28-25 lead. The visitors scored the next five before Plumer tied the game at 30 on a putback. Westminster scored seven of the next nine to take a 39-32 lead into halftime.

Metcalf scored the first four points of the half for the Scots after Westminster pushed their lead to nine. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) made a pair of free throws and Flynn made a putback to make it 44-40 Bluejays. Williams made a free throw after a flopping technical and Metcalf scored in the lane to cut the Bluejays lead to 44-43. The visitors went back up by five before Plumer made a free throw and WIlliams hit a 3-pointer. Yuvraj Sidhu (Coppell, Texas) scored in the lane to tie the game at 49 but missed the free throw for the lead.

The Bluejays scored and Monmouth pulled even again with 9:00 to play. After a turnover gave the Scots the ball, Taylor made a pair of free throws for a 53-51 lead but the Bluejays responded with a 3-pointer. Hill tied the game with a layup and after a Bluejays free throw, Taylor made a floater in the lane. Metcalf's free throws gave Monmouth a 59-56 lead with 5:50 to play and Plumer converted a 3-point play for a 6-point lead. Westminster scored four quick points before Brasfield made a pair of free throws.

Brasfield made a 3-pointer for a 67-62 Scots lead with 4:00 to play. The Bluejays scored but Plumer's putback kept the Scots on top by five. Metcalf found Williams for a dunk but then fouled out with 2:51 to play. Up four, the Scots turned it over but the Bluejays missed two free throws. Brasfield got a steal and a bucket before Westminster scored to cut the Scots lead to 73-69 with 1:21 left. Taylor made two free throws and Flynn got a steal and a basket for a 77-69 Monmouth lead. Williams made a pair of free throws before Westminster hit a long 3-pointer with 10 seconds left. Leading 79-74, Williams split free throws and the Bluejays missed their shot as the clock ran out.

Brasfield led the Scots with 17 points while Williams had 15. Metcalf and Plumer both had 13 points and Brasfield led the Scots with eight rebounds. Metcalf had four steals and two blocks while both Taylor and Brasfield had three assists.

The Scots will play at Eureka Monday night. Monmouth opened the season by beating Eureka at home 83-75 on Nov. 9.