SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Westminster College Griffins (12-2, 8-2 RMAC) proved to be too much for the Regis University men's basketball (12-4, 6-4 RMAC) team on Friday night as they beat Regis by a score of 75-67.
 
How It Happened: The Griffins provided a proverbial punch in the mouth to the Rangers as they scored eight-straight points in the first three minutes of the game. Sophomore Christian Little stopped the run with a layup at the 16:01 mark for RU's first points of the game. After that, Regis would not come within two points of WC for the rest of the first half. The visitors trailed by as many as 12 points, but they went into halftime down 26-36.
 
Less than three minutes into the second half, the Griffins extended their lead to 15 points, 30-45, which was their largest of the game to that point. Senior Dexter Sienko put a layup off the glass for two points and freshman Brian Dawson splashed a three-pointer that gave the Rangers some life. Another three-pointer from Dawson cut the lead to eight points, 38-46, with 13:35 remaining in the game.
 
WC responded with a few points but a three-pointer from junior Ryan Beisty followed by two free throws from Little pushed the momentum back to RU. Sienko blocked a shot on the defensive end that led to a layup from senior Ty McGee to bring Regis within four points, 45-49 at the midway point of the second half.
 
Despite cutting the lead to six points on a number of occasions in the second half, the home squad always found a way to counter. Junior Jarrett Brodbeck never gave in as he knocked down two three-pointers down the stretch, but it was not enough to bring the Rangers back. The Griffins knocked down their free-throws when it mattered and they came away with the 75-67 win.
 
Game Notes: With the loss on Friday, the Rangers move to 1-4 against Westminster College since the start of the 2015-16 season. McGee (6-12 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 3-6 FT) led all RU players with 16 points and four assists. Little (3-11 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 8-10 FT) added 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Sienko scored 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, collecting two blocks on the defensive end as well. The team shot 22-55 (40 percent) while allowing the Griffins to convert on 22-of-49 (44.9 percent) of their shots. The rebounding margin tilted in favor of the home squad 36-32. What started in the first three minutes of the game seemed to set the tone and carry through the remained of the contest.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The men's basketball team will not return to action until next weekend when they welcome the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks to the Regis Fieldhouse on Friday, January 19 for a game at 7 p.m. The following night, the Adams State University Grizzlies will make their lone visit to Regis for a game that will also take place at 7 p.m.