Ntwari Powers Warriors Past Hope

by BRANDON PETERSEN

Seven-footer Marius Ntwari was downright dominant for the Westcliff men's basketball team Friday at Vanguard University where the Warriors put it on Hope International, 78-66.

Ntwari controlled the paint, scoring 20 points and adding 15 rebounds for an impressive double-double.

It's a new day for Westcliff basketball and gone are the days of depending on a lone scorer to get the job done.

Joshua Jones (three rebounds, three assists, two steals) was fantastic, hitting three of six from range to finish with 18 points.

Joshua Harrison (four rebounds, four assists) wasn't bad either, draining a pair of triples to chime in with 17.

Abdul Abdullah just missed a double-double of his own, finishing with 12 points (6-10 FG) with nine boards and a help.

"We bought into the game plan, paid attention to the scout, what we needed to accomplish," Westcliff head coach Jerred Cook said. "We were able to execute well tonight. It was a revenge game. We wanted to get back at these guys."

Westcliff fell to Hope in Fullerton on Nov. 13 85-72.

It was almost an exact turnaround from the first contest.

"We introduced the press to them, tried to slow them down, and it worked," Cook said. "Then we started to work inside out."

Cook said the Warriors won the game on a number of great possessions down the stretch.

The Warriors will have to turn the page quickly as a game with Vanguard at Vanguard looms this afternoon in Costa Mesa.

"We'll have to be on our A game," Cook said. "They'll have their home crowd, and we'll have to be more sound. We lost our discipline at points in this game, we can't afford to do that against Vanguard."

Westcliff (2-2) tips with Vanguard at 4 p.m.

To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.