Big Second-Half Lifts Warriors Past PUC

Big Second-Half Lifts Warriors Past PUC
December 3, 2023
By Francisco Claudio
 
The Westcliff men's basketball team finished with a five-point lead at the end of the first half before a big 50-point second half paved the way for the 92-64 victory.
 
It was a close battle in the first half as the Warriors weren't able to extend their lead to more than four points for the majority of it.
 
With seven minutes left, Pacific Union continued battling and was able to take a one-point lead 33-32 for a brief moment before Westcliff responded.
 
The teams went back and forth until Micaiah Hankins broke the pattern with a layup and Justin Boateng followed with one of his own to finish the first half.
 
The Warriors were able to create a little bit of separation and were up 42-37.
 
And then a different beast came out of the half-time break as the Warriors started off strong with a 7-2 run that was capped off with a dunk by John Duff.
 
Westcliff outscored Pacific Union 50-27 and was scoring in every way possible.
 
They shot almost 57% in the second half and made 13-15 free throws.
 
Hankins finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-11 shooting and also made nine free throws.
He also grabbed six rebounds and dished five assists.
 
Duff recorded his second straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He was perfect from the field and free throw line.
 
Rayven also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds with a couple of those shots coming from downtown.
 
Westcliff went to the free-throw line a whopping 32 times and was able to convert 25 of them for a respectable 78% efficiency.
 
With the win, the defending Cal Pac champs have started their 2023-24 season in the best way possible and improved to an overall record of (2-3) and a conference record of (2-0).
 
The top half of the Cal Pac standings is busy with the first week of playing coming to its conclusion.
 
Four teams are tied in first place with a 2-0 record: Saint Katherine, Antelope Valley, UC Merced, and Westcliff.
 
Up next, the Warriors will host USK at home on Tuesday with a 7:30 pm start time.
 
After Tuesday's results, one team will earn their first loss of conference play while the other will move on with a 3-0 record.