Regis (CO) Regis 5-3,2-1 RMAC

Westminster (UT) WC-UT 4-5,0-3 RMAC

Regis (CO) Regis

5-3,2-1 RMAC

Final

Dec. 08, 2023

Westminster (UT) WC-UT

4-5,0-3 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Regis (CO) Regis	52	40	92
Westminster (UT) WC-UT	41	42	83

Summary
Box Score

Billy Saunders, Regis Athletics

Redshirt junior guard Eddy Egun scored a season-high 19 points on Friday (File Photo).

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | Dec 08 | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Rangers splash 19 3-pointers, shoot 59% from the floor in 92-83 road win over Westminster

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Regis University men's basketball team tip-offed its first RMAC road trip of 2023-24 in grand fashion on Friday, shooting a sizzling 58 percent from 3-point range and draining 19 shots behind the arc in a 92-83 shootout over Westminster University.

Eight different Rangers (5-3 overall 2-1 RMAC) would make at least one 3-pointer on Friday, with the 19 treys are the second most all-time in a single game for Regis, only topped by the 20 threes the 2015-16 squad made in December of 2015 against South Dakota Mines.

"Westminster can give a lot of teams trouble and (Behnken Field House), in my opinion, is one of the more difficult places to play in the conference. Our guys answered a challenge and very focused in practice this week and tonight in what we needed to do," said Regis head men's basketball coach, Brady Bergeson. "I'm really proud of the effort we put forth. Obviously, we made a lot of shots and that is eye-catching. It was a game where we were able to build a lead then stayed the course."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rangers entered play Saturday with a top-5 defense in the RMAC in fewest points allowed and most turnovers forced. But it would be their work beyond the arc that gave Westminster fits, especially through the game's opening 20 minutes.

Regis shot a blistering 12 for 20 from 3-point range in the first half, outscoring the Griffins (4-5 overall, 0-3 RMAC) by 33 points after Westminster was held to just 1-for-5 shooting from distance.

Sophomore guard Chase Mayo Harmon led the charge as he poured in a career-high 30 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including a 6-for-8 mark from three.

Redshirt junior guard Eddy Egun, making his first start of the fall, would explode for 19 points and was a spotless 3-for-3 from 3-point range, while graduate student forward Tarig Eisa also added three long balls (3-for-6) and was the third Ranger in double-figures with 15 points.

"We went into the game expecting to have a lot of opportunities from outside. Westminster typically packs the paint, defensively, and make you make jump shots. And we just had the mindset that we were going to take what they gave us," Bergeson said. "There were periods in the game where they switched their defenses, showed us a little zone and pressured full court, but we were able to counter them. And it's always nice when the ball drops for you."

Behind its 3-point barrage, Regis would build a 52-41 lead at the break, and led by as many as 17 points at 76-59 with 11:09 remaining, before Westminster was able to mount a counter.

The Griffins were able to trim the deficit down to five at 81-76 with 4:59 remaining, and inched back within five again at 88-83 as the clock ticked under two minutes, but were not able to slow down a Regis offense that hummed at 58.5% (31-for-53) shooting for the evening.

While both teams shot well north of 50 percent from the field on Friday, the Rangers defense was able to bow up when it mattered most as they held Westminster off the scoreboard during the final 1:54 to seal the 92-83 final.

"We knew Westminster was going to make a run back and the keys for us were to keep taking care of the ball and getting the shots we wanted. During the times they made their runs, we had a couple breakdowns, defensively," Bergeson said. "Both teams struggled to stop each other. But I do think we were able to regroup and make things difficult on them late in the game when they really had to push to get back into it. I thought that's where our defense really stood strong."

GAME NOTES

In addition to the field goal percentage (58.5%), made 3-pointers (19) and 3-point percentage (57.6%) being season highs, the Rangers also posted a season-best 23 assists versus just 11 turnovers.
Junior guard CJ Reed led all players with six assists, while Egun and freshman guard Jalen Brown each added four helpers.
Regis outscored the Griffins, 20-11, in points off turnovers and 27-16 in bench points.

UP NEXT
The Rangers will continue one of the most challenging road back-to-backs in the conference on Saturday when they square off against No. 18 ranked Colorado Mesa University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. out in Grand Junction.

"Colorado Mesa is playing really fast and are loaded with talent and firepower. It's going to take a big effort to slow them down, so we're going to have to go out, be super aggressive and play the way we play," Bergeson said. "I think only one team since Westminster and Colorado Mesa have been travel partners has swept this road trip. It's a very difficult road trip to win on so we're going to go into tomorrow like we've got nothing to lose and throw everything we can at them."

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