DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University men's basketball team (115, 8-2 RMAC) came from behind to edge Westminster College (6-8, 4-6 RMAC) 77-76 inside Regis Fieldhouse on Friday night.
 
How It Happened: Westminster College shot a staggering 68 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from the three-point line throughout the first half, helping them build a 40-31 halftime lead.
 
Regis began the game on a hot streak, shooting 4-for-5 from the field. Sophomore Tomas Auruskevicius, on his way to a career-high 15-points, knocked down the fourth Ranger field goal from behind the arc to make the score 9-2. 
 
RU led by 10 twice in the first half, 21-11 and 28-18, but it was the Griffins that closed the half on a strong note. Westminster College scored 14 unanswered points as they held Regis scoreless over a seven-minute span. During that time, the Rangers turned the ball over four times and shot 0-for-7 from the field.
 
With 2:52 remaining in the first half junior Roberto Vercellino made a free-throw to half the Griffins scoring spree. From there, the Griffins outscored RU 8-2 to close out the half with a 40-31 advantage.
 
Junior Christian Little, on his way to a team-high 20-points, made the first bucket of the second half and the Griffins let their nine-point halftime lead slip to six. Westminster College went on a 4-0 run the claim their largest lead of the game, 46-36, with 16:27 left to play.
 
Auruskevicius nailed back-to-back three pointers to begin the second half comeback. A 5-0 Regis run that cut their deficit to three featured two Vercellino baskets and an and-one free-throw. Both teams traded three-point buckets until Auruskevicius drove the lane, drawing the foul. The sophomore made his free-throw to give the Rangers their first lead, 61-60, in 14-minutes of play.
 
Neither team could stretch their lead to more than three in the final nine minutes that featured seven lead changes and three ties. Senior Jarrett Brodbeck gave RU a 73-72 lead by draining a two-point jumper with 1:48 remaining in the game. The Griffin regains the advantage with two made free-throws, but Little converted a three-point play to give Regis a two-point lead with 21 seconds on the clock.
 
Westminster was able to tie the game with just five seconds left, but Little drew a blocking foul with just three second left on the clock. He was sent to the foul-line where he knocked-down one-of-two free-throws to give the Rangers a 77-76 edge. The Griffins heaved a shot before the final buzzer sounded but the iron played into the favor of RU as the last-effort shot bounced out.
 
Game Notes: RU shot 44.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point land. Little led the team with 20 points while Auruskevicius had a career-high 15 points. Senior Ryan Beisty (12), Brodbeck (11), and freshman Toni Rocak (10) all added double-digits.
 
Westminster shot an impressive 62.7 from the field but only made 3-of-9 from the foul line while Regis made 11-of-16.
 
The Rangers grabbed 12 offensive boards, leading to 17 second chance points. RU outrebounded the Griffins 31-27. Vercellino had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University men's basketball team will host Dixie State University on Saturday, January 19 at 5 p.m.