The Westminster College men's basketball team took on the Principia College Panthers in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game. The Blue Jays partnered with the Super Sam Foundation to raise awareness for childhood cancer. After a back-and-forth first half, the Panthers took control of the game and defeated the Blue Jays 89-75. Principia improves to 15-5 and 7-2 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Westminster goes to 2-18 on the season and 1-8 in the conference.
The Blue Jays started the game with a 7-2 lead after a runner by Brennan Jeffries and a 3-pointer by Jaxon Atlhaus off an assist from Jeffries. Caleb Maassen scored a layup as the Blue Jays scored on their first three possession of the game. Principia tied the game 16-16 with 12:40 left in the half as both teams battled back and forth. The Panthers went on a 7-2 run to take the lead and up 25-22. Maassen got fouled and made the basket a few moments later and tied the game 25-25 after completing the free throw. Principia then went on a run and took a 39-32 lead with 3:30 left in half. They ended the half outscoring the Blue Jays 10-2 and had a 49-34 lead at the break.
Principia started the second half by hitting back-to-back 3s and extended its lead to as many as 22 at one point. The Panthers held that lead for the remainder of the game and won 89-75.
The Panthers made 10 3s in the game, going 10-22. They shot 63% from the field. Westminster shot 44% from the field and made seven 3s. Principia turned the Blue Jays over 19 times, which resulted in 26 points off turnovers. The Jays outrebounded the Panthers 30-27. Westminster shot 80% from the free-throw line, going 20-25.
The Blue Jays were led offensively by Maassen, who had 16 points and was 7-9 from the field. Makygh Galbreath had 14 points and was a perfect 4-4 from 3. Jeffries had 11 points and went 5-8.
Westminster will be back in action Saturday when it takes on Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois. That game will tip off at 3 p.m.