Close Ending Results In A Blue Jay Victory Over Fontbonne

St. Louis, Mo. – A close ending results in a Westminster Blue Jay victory over Fontbonne University Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays pulled out a 78-75 win after trailing most of the game. The Blue Jays are now on a five game win streak with a 13-8 overall record. They are holding fourth place in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) with a 10-4 record.

Two minutes into the game, the Griffins blasted a 14-0 run, taking the early 19-5 lead. The Blue Jays brought the game within ten points, and with 1:35 left in the half, junior Verdis Lee Jr. hit a three-pointer to bring the game within four points, 34-38. The Blue Jays headed into halftime down 34-39.

The Griffins pulled a 8-0 run in the first 1:17 minutes of the second half, forcing the Blue Jays to call a timeout. The Blue Jays came out of the timeout with their own 8-0 run, bringing the game within five points just 3 minutes into the game.

An 8-2 run by the Blue Jays brought the game within two points with 8:23 left in the game (59-61). The game stayed with seven points, but a three-pointer junior Brandon Moore tied the game up at 73-73 with 1:22 left in the game. With 41 seconds left, freshman Tanner Gentges headed to the free throw line; he went 1-for-2, giving the Blue Jays their first lead of the half.

A steal by Moore gave the Blue Jays another chance to increase the lead, and senior Joe James went to the free throw line to take the 75-73 lead. The Blue Jays fouled with 8 seconds left on the clock, but the Griffins went 1-for-2 from the foul line, leaving the lead with the Blue Jays. The Griffins brought the game within one point again with 3 seconds left in the game, but James hit both free throws to end the game with a 78-75 win.

The Blue Jays shot 47.3 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from the three-point line. James led the game with 27 points and led the Blue Jays with five rebounds. He went 5-for-7 from the three-point line and 6-for-8 from the foul line. Moore added 13 points to the win after going 5-for-9 from the three-point line. James, Lee Jr., and Gentges had four assists each. Senior Jordan Jones had four steals.

The Blue Jays host Iowa Wesleyan College on Wednesday, February 12, at 8:00 p.m.